Apples

Sufficient storage supplies of Washington Markon First Crop (MFC) Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Red Delicious Apples remain available. The MFC Gala Apple season is winding down; volume is tight.       

• Washington MFC Gala Apple orders require size and grade substitutions until new crop harvesting begins
• California Gala apple shipments begin next week
• Michigan apples will hit the market in September; size profile is pending as trees enter the latter stages of the growing process
• Please see the grid below for a quick reference to Washington apple transitions, current size profiles, and expected start dates for the Michigan crop:

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Broccoli

• MFC Broccoli is available
• Supplies are increasing out of Central Mexico, as the season transitions north, to more elevated growing regions
• Demand is shifting away from West Coast supplies, pushing markets down in the Salinas Valley
  • Supplies are steady
  • Quality is improving
• Markets have fallen more than 35% off their end of June highs
• Expect prices to remain lower in both areas over the next 15 to 30 days as local/regional production helps spread out demand

Cauliflower

• Markon Essentials Cauliflower is available
• Salinas Valley volume is steady; demand ranges from fair to good
• Expect markets to follow broccoli downwards, as quality issues like ricing, black spot, and inconsistent sized heads have become less prevalent
• West Coast prices will remain low through July as local/regional harvesting helps decrease demand

Cucumbers

Markets are lower as numerous regions are in summer production. MFC and Markon Essentials Cucumbers are available.

• The East Coast has adequate supply; many summer regions are harvesting
• Tennessee, New Jersey, New York (as well as others) are contributing, and Michigan is ramping up production
• Overall quality is good despite a few heat-related concerns observed during the grading process
• The Baja Peninsula in Mexico is transitioning to new fields, tightening stocks slightly
• Quality is average as older fields are phased out; the new crop outlook is positive
• Expect lower prices to continue over the next two weeks

Iceberg

Prices continue to rise amid tight supplies.

• MFC Iceberg Lettuce is available; Markon Best Available (MBA) will become more prevalent in the next few weeks as shippers cut ahead to avoid quality issues, and consequentially don’t meet weight specifications
• Overall volume is low due to heads exhibiting sun scald, wind burn, and disease/pest pressure
• Nationwide heat has reduced supplies in local and regional growing areas, increasing West Coast demand
• Mildew pressure, INSV, internal burn, and thrip damage are all potential challenges being observed in most lots
• Markets are poised to keep inching up over the next 7 to 10 days

Onions

The California and New Mexico summer seasons are beginning to wind down. New crop Northwest supplies will start shipping in a limited manner next week.

New Mexico

• Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue to slow production; loading times may be affected
• Although rain continues to fall, plenty of stocks are available
• Yellow onion pricing remains elevated,  but it’s starting to ease
• Red onion markets are inching down due to weakening demand
• The New Mexico season will run through mid-August

California

• Several growers will begin to deplete supply levels over the next few weeks; others will have onions through mid-August
• Stocks are sufficient for the rest of the season
• Yellow onion pricing is firm due to strong demand
• Red onion demand is weak; markets have eased

Northwest

• Washington onions will hit the market in limited numbers next week
• In the Idaho/Oregon region, low volume will start shipping the week of August 8; the majority of suppliers will begin the week of August 15
• Utah onions will hit the market in late August
• Colorado production is forecast to get underway by mid-August
• Expect elevated prices through August

Potatoes

Idaho’s remaining storage volume continues to fall. Suppliers will ration remaining stocks. Prices continue to climb to all-time highs.

Remaining Storage Supply

• Several Idaho growers have already depleted stocks; demand will shift to those with remaining supply
• In order to extend shipments into August, and until new crop harvesting begins, suppliers will shorten daily production schedules and shed hours

• Shortening production schedules will further limit availability
• Suppliers will be using Markon’s six-week averages
• Size substitutions are required for order fulfillment; ship dates may need adjustments
• Growers are requesting order lead time of at least seven business days
• 40- to 80-count stocks remain extremely limited; 90- through 120-count supplies continue to tighten
• Remaining supply far exceeds demand in Colorado; the seasons in Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin have ended

New Crop Potatoes

• Washington’s new crop production will begin toward the end of next week; early season supplies will be extremely limited
• Idaho’s harvest will start in a limited manner the week of August 8; the bulk of production will get underway the week of August 22
• Idaho and Washington growers anticipate early season yields to be dominated by 70- to 90-count potatoes; size profile will increase in late August
• Colorado’s harvest will begin in late August
• Texas potatoes are anticipated to ship the week of August 15
• Wisconsin supplies are forecast to enter the market in mid-August
• Expect elevated markets to persist until early September

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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