Arugula and Tender Leaf Varieties

Supplies of tender leaf/spring mix varieties are limited in the Arizona and California growing regions.

• Freezing temperatures in California’s Imperial Valley and Yuma, Arizona the past two weeks has taken a toll on tender leaf items

• Abnormally low temperatures have slowed plant maturity; yellowing leaves and product breakdown are main quality challenges

• Markon brand suppliers are meeting Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Spring Mix and RSS Heritage Blend demand but are struggling to cover 100% of RSS Arugula orders

• Arugula supplies are the tightest within the tender leaf category due to sensitivity to abnormally low temperatures

Bell Peppers

Red bell pepper volume is slowing increasing due to warmer weather in Sinaloa, Mexico. Green bells supplies are ample out of Mexico. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Red Bells

• Mexico’s warmer weather over the last week has helped the ripening process
  • Expect supplies to gradually increase over the next two weeks
  • Quality is good
• Gold bells remain snug as less acreage was planted
• Expect lower prices over the next two weeks, weather permitting

Green Bells

• Mexico has good availability and quality, keeping the overall market lower; all sizes are available
• Florida stocks remain tight due to past inclement weather
  • Quality is mixed
  • Some growers are reporting great quality while others are seeing rain-related concerns such as odd shape and scarring
• Expect slightly lower markets over the next week

Broccoli and Cauliflower

MFC Broccoli and ESS Cauliflower are available. Prices are lower in the Arizona-California desert and Mexican growing regions amid weak demand and abundant supplies.

Broccoli

• Domestic quality ranges from fair to good despite recent rains; precipitation followed by warmer weather will lead to increased occurrences of pin rot/brown bead, yellowing, and mildew pressure
• Mexican-grown product is available for loading in South Texas at slightly lower FOB costs;
  • Growers are shipping ample supplies from both Northern and Central Mexico
  • Quality is very good due to dry, temperate weather
• Expect markets to remain relatively steady at low levels through February

Cauliflower

• Stocks are abundant despite cooler weather and some rain events in January
• Quality issues may become more prevalent as higher temperatures follow last week’s rain
  • Expect to see increased dark spotting and mildew pressure as well as some inconsistently sized and off-color heads
  • Large sizes (12- and 9-count supplies) may tighten as mature fields “bunch together” due to weeks of alternating cold and warmth

• Expect prices to continue to slide through this week before turning around within five to seven days

California Citrus

California’s San Joaquin Valley and Southern California citrus growing districts are forecast to receive a series of rain events starting Wednesday, January 31 through Thursday February 8. Expect harvesting delays, tight supplies, and higher markets over the next two weeks.

• MFC and ESS Lemons and Oranges are available
• Growers cannot harvest fruit when orchards are wet
  • If picked when wet, the rinds will break down and discoloration will develop
  • Mud and standing water may limit crews’ ability to get equipment into orchards
  • Markon has requested that suppliers pack ahead of this rain event

• These upcoming rains will exacerbate the 113- and 138-count orange shortage in California; extended amounts of rain reduce harvesting frequencies, which in turn allow each fruit to grow in size

Cilantro

• RSS Washed & Trimmed Cilantro is available
• Several low-pressure systems will be moving through the Oxnard, California and Yuma, Arizona growing regions, bringing low temperatures, gusty winds, and precipitation
• Stocks are exhibiting minimal issues at time of harvest, but cumulative stress over the growth cycle is reducing shelf-life
  • Growers have increased sorting on value-added production lines to combat early breakdown and yellowing
  • Ordering for quick turns is recommended for the next two to three weeks
• Markets are expected to remain relatively steady but quality challenges will persist as additional precipitation is in the forecast

Cucumbers

Cucumber markets remain elevated due to extremely limited supplies. MFC Cucumbers are available.

• Import stocks out of Honduras (into Florida) are tight
  • Fewer acres were planted this season
  • Demand is stronger than normal
  • Overall quality is average

• Mexico stocks are very snug due to recent cold weather and rain
  • Quality is good; however, large sizes are limited as fruit diameter has been affected by cold weather
  • Volume will gradually increase over the next 10 days, weather permitting
• Expect continued high prices over the next week

Idaho Potatoes

MFC Idaho Burbank and Norkotah Potatoes are readily available.

• Overall Idaho volume has increased, as Burbank growers begin to release more product to the fresh market
• Quality is strong in both varieties, with stocks primarily yielding No. 1 quality potatoes; fewer No. 2 potatoes are available
• Expect soft prices through February
• Norkotah and Burbank stocks are expected to ship through late July to early August

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

Mandarin Oranges

Mandarin season is in full swing; domestic supplies will ship through the end of May. Mandarins are a part of the easy to peel family (i.e., Halo’s/Wonderful or Peel Good/Sunkist)

• External color is deep orange with a smooth glossy skin
  • Smaller with a flatter shape compared to a navel orange
• Thinner, looser rind helps create an easy to peel experience
• Currently harvesting in California’s D1 (Central Valley) before shipping export fruit early June
• One 24ct and two 40ct size fruit meets the school requirement for ½ cup serving size
• Quality is excellent; supplies are ample

Onions

Onion prices continue to rise as demand exceeds supply. Markets will remain elevated through the month of February and into March. White onion supplies remain scarce; markets are extreme in all regions. MFC Onions are available out of storage from Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Washington.

• Pacific Northwest
  • Supplies will wind down over the next two months; some smaller sheds have potential to finish in March
  • Pack-outs in the Northwest are declining; some lots exhibiting internal browning will result is lower yields and diminishing storage supplies
• Colorado
  • Expect supplies to be depleted by the end of February/early March
• Canada
  • Supplies are quickly declining; pack-outs are low due to poor quality
• Texas
  • The domestic season is slated to start the first week of March; a normal crop is expected but demand will be stronger due to Mexican onion shortages
• Mexico
  • Supplies are expected to begin crossing into South Texas in a limited manner by mid-February; expect overall volume to be 30% to 40% lower due to water shortages

Squash

Zucchini and yellow squash markets remain elevated. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are limited; packer label is being substituted as needed.

• Florida’s volume is extremely low as early January’s poor weather damaged fields and took some acreage out of production
• Mexican supplies are snug due to past cold weather and rain affecting the yields in southern Sinaloa; growers anticipate a challenging February as cooler weather pushed back plantings and could impact the transition to southern Sonoran fields
• Some suppliers in Mexico and Florida have enacted disaster clauses on contracts
• Expect continued high prices and limited availability over the next two weeks

Strawberries

Heavy rain is forecast for Oxnard and Santa Maria, from Wednesday, January 31 to Sunday, February 4.

Oxnard, California

• Growers will harvest ahead of the storm
• Expect markets to tighten for the back half of the week/the front part of the following week
• Some Mexican-grown supplies will be transferred from South Texas to help fill orders

Santa Maria, California

• Heavy rain is forecast
• Expect prices to rise and volume to fall during this period of weather
• New crop fruit will enter the market in mid-February

Central Mexico (Loading in South Texas)

• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Expect steady supply levels
• Markon recommends loading South Texas if possible

Florida

• Temperatures have increased and rain isn’t in the forecast until Sunday, February 4
• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Expect steady markets and ample yields

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

©2024 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.