Avocado Supplies

The transition from the normal crop to Flora Loca supplies is delayed due to ongoing rain in the Michoacan growing region. Expect significantly higher prices for the next two to three weeks.

Mexico

• Large sizes (32- to 48-count supplies) are increasing, but remain limited
• Small sizes (60- to 70-count stocks) are becoming more plentiful
• Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported
• Expect elevated markets over the next two to three weeks

California/Peru

• Yields continue to diminish week over week, as the season will wind down in late August
• The crop is currently dominated by 48- and 60-count No. 1 grade fruit
• Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening) has been reported
• Expect high prices

Bell Peppers

Green bell pepper supplies are increasing as harvesting becomes established in the Midwest and Northeastern regions; markets are easing. Red bell pepper demand remains strong; prices are elevated despite new crop production in California. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green Bell Peppers are available; MFC and ESS Red Bell Peppers are snug.

Green Bells

• California production is underway in Hollister, Oxnard, and Fresno
  • Quality is excellent
  • Large sizes dominate availability
  • The Fresno season is winding down; choice grade and small sizes are prevalent
• Volume ranges from low to average in Western North Carolina and Kentucky
• Production is in full swing in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, easing prices
• New Jersey will continue harvesting No. 1 grade stocks until mid-August; however, choice grades are abundant also
• Harvesting is getting underway in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec
• Prices are inching down as more regions begin production, increasing overall supplies

Red Bells

• The California crop is winding down in Bakersfield with hit-or-miss quality due to the prolonged heat wave in July
  • Extra grading is required
  • Large sizes are tight
  • New crop harvesting is getting started in Fresno and Oxnard this weekend; full production isn’t expected for another week
• Canadian greenhouse supplies are a bit tighter, increasing demand in California
• Volume will increase in Central Mexico (crossing in South Texas) over the next two weeks as more growers come online
• The East Coast does not grow a significant amount of colored peppers
• Expect elevated prices over the next two weeks

Broccoli

Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being shipped in both Mexico (into South Texas) and Salinas, California; packer label is being substituted as needed to fill orders.

• Markets are rising as supplies are tightening across all regions this week
• Volume is low out of East Coast and Midwestern regions, including Toronto, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, and the Carolinas
  • Heavy East Coast rains and extreme heat across the nation have led to various levels of pin rot, branching, and yellowing
  • Canadian product, while limited, is exhibiting the strongest available quality at this time for East Coast customers
• Mexican-grown product (crossing into South Texas) is available at a slight FOB savings, but elevated insect pressure and branchy crowns are quality problems
• Expect prices to continue rising across all markets throughout the month of August, and begin to tail off by mid- to late September when acreage increases in California and Georgia

Brussels Sprouts

MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are available.

• The Mexico season has finished; the majority of supplies are shipping from the Salinas Valley, Santa Maria, and Oxnard, California
• Markets continue to stay elevated this week
• Quality is good; some defects such as seeder, puffy texture, and insect damage are being found in fields
• Sizing is running heavier on mediums, with fewer availability of jumbos
• The Salinas season has been off to a slow start, but volumes are projected to improve by mid-August; suppliers are in better shape than they were last year around this time
• Prices are expected to hold steady at elevated levels this week, with relief coming in the next two to three weeks

Cilantro

RSS Washed & Trimmed Cilantro is available.

• Despite a rebound in mid- to late July, volume has decreased this week amid reduced acreage and strong demand
• Quality concerns across Southern and Central California (Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas Valley) are on the rise
• Markon inspectors are reporting quality problems due to persistent heat
  • Thick stems, wide leaves, seeder/bolting, damaged, yellow, and spotted leaves are issues
  • DCs are strongly advised to adjust order patterns for increased turns due to short shelf-life concerns
• Expect volatile/elevated prices through the month of August

Limes

Rain in Veracruz, Mexico is impacting harvests; markets are on the rise. MFC and ESS Limes are available. 

• Heavy rains in the main growing region of Veracruz, Mexico are limiting harvests and driving up prices; shipments are down
• Due to persistent rains, growers are reporting increases of stylar, oil spotting, and occasional decay during grading
• Fruit size is increasing; supplies are dominated by larger-size, 110- to 175-count limes
• Expect medium to smaller sizes (200- to 250-count limes) to become limited
• Prices are expected to continue to rise as crossings at the US-Mexico border decrease
• Markon recommends increased lead time to avoid loading delays

Mixed Berries

Blackberry supplies are experiencing a supply gap; warmer growing conditions have increased quality issues. Raspberry stocks are adequate. Blueberry volume is high as growers are harvesting in multiple growing regions.

Blackberries

• Yields are down in Central Mexico
• California volume is low
• Quality is fair; red cell and softness are problems
• Prices are rising; low yields for the next 7-10 days

Blueberries

• Stocks are ample in Mexico and the Pacific Northwest
• Demand is steady
• Quality is good; slight dehydration is being reported due to high temperatures in Mexico
• The market is steady

Raspberries

• Mexican berry production is steady
• California growers are harvesting in Watsonville
• Quality is good
• Demand is strong; prices are elevated

Onions

Harvesting will wind down in California and New Mexico over the next two to three weeks; new crop production will begin in multiple regions throughout August.

Northern California

• MFC Onions are available
• The season is expected to end August 18
• Quality remains good; loose skins and flaking are typical of fresh-run onions
• Yellow onions are dominated by jumbo supplies; medium size onions are scarce
• Jumbo and medium red onion stocks are meeting demand; white onion supplies remain adequate
• Yellow markets are higher due to increased demand; red prices are lower, and the white market is steady

New Mexico

• MFC Onions are available
• The season will wrap up by August 18
• Quality is good; light sunburn and loose skins have been reported
• Isolated thunderstorms continue to slow production and cause packing delays
• Yellow onion stocks are decreasing; medium sizes are limited
• Red onion supplies are adequate; white onions are meeting demand
• Prices for all yellow onions are rising due to strong demand and decreasing volume

Washington

• Yellow and red onion harvests will begin next week
• Adequate volume is expected by August 12
• The white onion season will get underway in mid-August

Idaho/Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, and New York

• New crop onion production will begin in Idaho, Oregon, and Colorado on August 12
• Michigan yellow onion harvests will start in mid-August followed by red onions in mid-September; white onion volume is very minimal from this region
• New York yellow and red onion harvests are expected to start in September; white onions are not available

Oranges

The California Valencia crop is dominated by large sizes; small fruit (113- and 138-count) remains limited. With many schools starting in the coming weeks, small-size fruit will become extremely scarce. Size, grade, and country of origin substitutions will be necessary to fill orders.

California

• MFC and ESS Valencia Oranges are available
• Supplies are dominated by large sizes (56- to 88-count); smaller sizes (113- to 138-count) are limited
• Expect 113- and 138-count oranges to become extremely scarce once schools start

• Prolonged heat in California’s San Joaquin Valley has caused some re-greening in oranges (see attached flyer)
• Initial reports project California Navels will begin shipping in mid- to late October
• Expect steady yet elevated markets and extremely limited supplies of all small fruit through early October

Chile/South Africa

• Oranges are being imported into both the East and West Coasts

• 105-count Chilean oranges are equivalent to domestic 113s
• 125-count Chilean oranges are equivalent to domestic 138s
• Quality is great; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• Small size offshore fruit is an option to fill the void of domestic fruit

Pineapples

Pineapple supplies are limited.

• Costa Rican volume remains low; stocks will increase through next week
• Delayed vessel arrivals hampered available supplies early this week, but shipments will start arriving on time through next week

Potatoes

The season for MFC Idaho Burbank Potatoes is in its last few weeks. New crop, fresh-run MFC Norkotah Potatoes will hit the market in three weeks. 

Storage Crop

• MFC Burbank Potatoes are beginning to wind down; supplies will remain available through mid-August
• 40- through 70-count supplies are extremely limited
  • Size substitutions will be required for order fulfillment
  • Shipping dates may need to be adjusted
• 80– through 120-count potatoes are readily available
• Quality continues to meet specifications in remaining stocks; air checks and pressure/shoulder bruising will be seen sporadically
  • Air checks are tiny thumbnail-like cracks caused by stress due to abrupt temperature changes
  • Pressure and shoulder bruising (soft/external indents) result from constant contact with adjacent  potatoes, or the floor, while raw product sits in storage piles

New Crop

• New crop production will begin in Washington later this week; expect great mixer volume
• Idaho new crop harvesting will start August 19; the size profile is yet to be determined
• Limited Burbanks will enter the market in early November
• New crop potatoes will be sent to storage sheds as well as straight to packing facilities to fill for orders (fresh-run)

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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