Bell Peppers

Red Bells

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Red Bell Peppers are limited; packer label may be substituted if necessary

• California growers are starting production in Bakersfield; however, supplies remain limited due to past weather
  • Overall quality is good but light color, chocolate shading, and pitting are being observed in some early packs
  • Large sizes are most plentiful

• Central Mexico has a light to steady flow of red bell supplies (crossing into South Texas)
• Canadian greenhouses are seeing moderate volume this week
  • Quality is good
  • Extra-large peppers are most common
• Expect markets to slowly decline over the next two weeks

Green Bells

• MFC and ESS Green Bell Peppers are available

• California’s San Joaquin Valley continues to harvest moderate/steady stocks
  • Quality is very good; all sizes are available
  • The Gilroy/Hollister region is expected to start production the week of July 18

• East Coast volume has increased; however, inclement weather may hinder harvesting this weekend
  • Quality is good; large sizes are most abundant
  • Growers in Kentucky, Virginia, and New Jersey are expected to start production this weekend; Michigan will start the week of July 18
• Expect slightly higher markets next week

Potatoes

Storage Crop Burbank Potatoes

• 40- and 50- count stocks are currently the tightest
• Demand is now shifting to 60- and 70- count sizes, putting strain on these sizes
• 90- through 120-count potatoes are sufficient
• MFC suppliers have implemented a six-week average for shipping that will persist through mid-August
• Size substitutions may be required for order fulfillment
• Many Northwest suppliers have already depleted their storage volume; several others expect to experience a 7- to 14-day supply gap in late July and early August
• The overall shortage has pushed demand toward those growers with any remaining potatoes
• Remaining supplies also exceed demand in other regions such as Colorado, Texas, and Wisconsin

New Crop Norkotah Potatoes

• New crop production will begin in early August
• Growers anticipate early harvests to yield predominantly 70- to 90-count sizes
• Size is not expected to increase until late August
• Expect elevated markets to persist until early September

Onions

New Mexico

• Forecasts continue to call for as much as a 25% chance of rain
• Muddy, wet fields will slow harvesting
• Suppliers are adding extra dry time before sending onions to production and culling any stocks exhibiting quality concerns
• Loading times may be affected, as result
• Yellow onion prices continue to inch up; red onion markets are steady
• The New Mexico season will run through mid-August

California

• Summer heat persists in the San Joaquin Valley; daily temperature highs will range from 95° to 105° F
• Onions may exhibit occasional sun scalding, due to intense sunlight and heat; supplies exhibiting any excessive defects will be culled
• Stocks are sufficient; yellow onion pricing has also increased in reaction to activity in New Mexico
• The season is currently scheduled to run through late August

Onions – Northwest

• The Idaho season is expected to get underway in mid-August
• Washington shipments will begin in mid-August
• Utah onions will hit the market late August

Cilantro

• Above-average temperatures and humidity are forecast across California through next week
• Volume fell following recent high temperatures in Oxnard, Salinas, and Santa Maria, California; burn, disease pressure, seeder, and yellowing are reducing harvestable volume at the field level by 35-40%
• Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Cilantro is currently achieving specified quality and shelf-life but there is potential for early breakdown due to heat-related stress  
• Expect high markets through July, at minimum, until younger plantings reach harvest maturity

Salinas Heat Wave

After a short respite from high temperatures, the Salinas Valley will once again experience a heatwave starting Thursday, July 14 and continuing through the middle of next week. Morning lows will range from the upper 40°s to low 60°s and daytime highs for inland areas will be in the 80°s to low 100°s; coastal areas should remain in the 70°s.

This cycle of rising high pressure and heat spikes every two weeks has been going on since early June and is not typical of Salinas Valley weather patterns. Many crops have reacted poorly to the heat and elevated humidity levels, causing widespread quality and shelf-life concerns in commodity and value-added crops. As a result, MFC and RSS specifications have been harder to meet. Due to crops not meeting MFC specifications, we are currently substituting a higher percentage of Markon Best Available.

The most common heat-related defects observed:

Baby Leaf and Other Lettuces:

• Bolting/seeder
• Growth cracks
• Inconsistent growth/fluctuating density
• Increased insect pressure
• Internal burn/tip burn
• Shortened shelf-life
• Sun burn/sun scalding

Broccoli:

• Accelerated growth/oversized crowns
• Dehydration
• Hollow core
• Pin rot
• Shortened shelf-life
• Yellowing

Strawberries:

• Decreased size
• Lower volume
• Increased bruising
• Soft texture
• Shortened shelf-life

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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