Bell Peppers

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are readily available
• Expect consistent supplies and steady markets into February

Green Bells

• Despite low nighttime temperatures that have delayed growth in some Mexican fields, overall supplies remain ample
• South Florida’s winter volume is low due to recent cold weather
• Weaker demand is keeping prices level this week; expect stable markets and adequate stocks next week

Red Bells

• Yields are high in the Sinaloa region of Mexico despite cooler evenings
  • Quality is very good
  • Overripe peppers are being observed in some lots
• The East Coast doesn’t produce a significant amount of colored bell peppers
• Expect lower/promotable prices next week as favorable weather is in the forecast

Bok Choy

• A passing cold front has caused California and Arizona desert region temperatures to drop significantly
• Already reduced yields at the field level due to rain and high winds are being additionally impacted by cool weather
• Near-freezing nighttime temperatures and frosts have been stunting growth of current crops
• 30-pound pack sizes will be prioritized by suppliers to increase case count per acre
• Supplies are forecast to remain light through mid-February, when younger plantings have more time to mature

Broccoli

Imperial Valley, California/Yuma, Arizona/Northern Baja, Mexico

• MFC Broccoli is available
• Supplies remain ample but will begin to tighten this weekend and next week following persistently cold temperatures
• Quality is very good; very minimal yellowing, mold, and decay are being reported
• Expect slightly higher markets next week

Mexico (into South Texas)

• MFC Broccoli is available
• The price spread between Mexico and the AZ/CA desert region remains minimal; supplies are ample
• Quality is very good; some mechanical damage has been noted along with occasional mildew
• Markets are expected to remain fairly steady into next week

Cauliflower

Imperial Valley and Santa Maria, California/Yuma, Arizona/Northern Baja, Mexico

• • ESS Cauliflower is available; packer label may be substituted as needed to fill orders
  • Continued low temperatures are slowing growth and limiting supplies
  • Quality is good; mold, off-color, and small size are being observed in some lots
  • Prices are rising this week and will continue to climb next week following sustained cold weather

Celery

• MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Celery are available
• Availability continues to increase in all regions despite cool weather and rain events
  • Oxnard, California is the primary growing region; disease pressure (fusarium) remains present in some lots
  • Harvesting in Santa Maria, California will continue year-round
  • Arizona/California desert production is underway; stocks are ramping up
  • Florida supplies are limited; cold weather has slowed growth and reduced large sizes
• Expect continued market decline over the next 7 to 10 days

From the Fields: Cold Wind & Ice in the Desert Region

• After some favorable weather earlier this month, another wave of cold, gusty winds has caused temperatures to dip and lettuce ice to develop over the past several days
• More lettuce ice is expected throughout the week which will result in continued production and loading delays
• Ice and wind-related defects from this most recent cold snap are already presenting themselves in lettuce crops primarily, but growth will be slowed in most desert crops
• Younger crops that still have one to four weeks to fully mature may exhibit significant epidermal blistering and peeling issues
• Markon inspectors are evaluating commodity and value-added items closely and selecting the best product for Markon orders, as well as working with crews to minimize quality defects

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• MFC Premium Green Leaf is readily available out of the Arizona/California desert growing region
• MFC Premium Iceberg and Romaine are being packed regularly; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed due to light case weights
• Quality is good; epidermal blistering, fringe burn, insect pressure, and mildew are present in some lots
• Green leaf and romaine prices are expected to remain fairly steady into next week
• Iceberg markets will inch up as continued cold weather impacts the Arizona/California desert region, lowering volume

Idaho Potatoes – Cold Weather Forecast

• Extremely low temperatures persist in Eastern and Southern Idaho
• Temperatures need to be 18°F or higher for five to seven hours to haul potatoes from cellars to packing sheds
• Growers do not ship potatoes to packing sheds when temperatures are below 18°F to avoid freezing raw product
• Expect reduced production and delayed loading; advanced lead time is highly recommended for order fulfillment
• Many suppliers will utilize onsite storage to cover orders; sizing may be limited

Mixed Berries

Raspberries

• Volume will remain lower than expected through next week due to low temperatures
  • Supply levels will reach peak in Central Mexico by early June
  • Oxnard, California volume will remain minimal until early spring
  • Florida stocks will remain minimal for the next three weeks
• Stocks are diminishing; markets will rise

Blueberries

• Growers in Central Mexico will harvest ample supplies until early March
• Peruvian imports are moving past seasonal highs; expect strong volume for two more weeks, then declining supplies
• Stocks will slowly increase in Baja, Mexico through January, reaching peak season this spring
• Supplies are adequate

Blackberries

• Most fruit is being sourced in Central Mexico at this time
• Domestic supplies are expected to decrease due to cold weather
• Stocks are sufficient

Onions – Northwest Storage Supply Quality

Northwest storage onion quality has been excellent this season. A cold, wet spring along with a warmer-than-average summer reduced the number of onions growers could store through early spring 2023. These weather swings could also pose quality issues over the last few remaining months of season.

• Dry Scale
  • Dry scale develops when an onion is starting to bulb
  • When growth is hindered due to excessive heat or lack of adequate water, the inner bulb may set a small layer of dry skin around the top of the bulb, which the outer layers will grow around as the onion continues to mature, leaving what looks like a gap between the layers
• Translucency
  • Translucency is characterized by a grayish, watery texture within the outer layer(s) of an onion when cut in half
• It can form in storage, as well as in transit
• In storage, onions at the bottom portion of a storage pile endure pressure from the weight of the onions above
• Watery Scale
• Onions with watery scales have an off-color, water-soaked appearance internally
• The defect will develop due to lack of nutrients, sub-optimal water treatment, and sharp temperature changes
• Suppliers are unable to detect defects during the sorting and packing process; the defects are internal and appear under the dry, outer skin of the onion

Strawberries

Oxnard, California

• New crop harvesting is delayed due to previous heavy rainfall
• Production is expected to begin this week, but yields will be extremely low
• The Oxnard growing region is not expected to meet Valentine’s Day demand
• Suppliers will be relying on transfers of Mexican-grown fruit to supplement California shipments through late January at minimum

Santa Maria, California

• Previous rain is expected to delay new crop harvesting by two to three weeks
• The Santa Maria growing region is not expected to meet Valentine’s Day demand
• New crop fruit will enter the market in mid-February

Central Mexico (Loading in South Texas)

• Expect to see stocks tighten as Mexico fills shortages from California and Florida
• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Expect supplies to tighten and pricing to increase

Florida

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Last week’s unexpected freezing temperatures will tighten stocks this week
• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Prices are rising

Tomatoes

• MFC Tomatoes are readily available
• The Mexican growing region of Culiacan is in full production with good quality round, Roma, grape, and cherry tomatoes
  • Sizes are trending larger this week
  • 4×4 & 4×5’s as well as Roma tomatoes are substantially lower priced and promotable
• Florida’s winter production is steady in the Naples region despite recent cool weather
  • Growers are moving into second and third picks which will even out the size profile
  • Roma quality is mixed; occasional shoulder issues are being observed during harvests
• Expect prices to remain low over the next two weeks

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

©2023 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.