Avocados

Supplies remain limited as Mexico’s new crop harvest is underway. The California and Peruvian seasons continue to help fill the void from Mexico’s slow start.

Mexico

• Mexico is now harvesting the Loca crop
  • Flowering is being reported outside the normal spring season
  • This late summer flowering matures its fruit in early winter, when the normal crop is in short supply
• Larger sizes (32- to 48-count supplies) remain limited; smaller sizes (60- to 84-count) dominate availability
• Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported
• The Loca crop fruit will have longer shelf-life than other avocado crops with bright green texture, regardless of the ripening stage
• Expect pricing to slightly decline as production increases over the next two weeks

California/Peru

• Supply will increase in both regions as Mexico’s Loca yields rise
• Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening) has been reported
• Expect to see stable pricing and an increase in supply

Cauliflower

Markets have risen as supplies decrease in the primary growing regions of Salinas and Santa Maria, California.

• Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is available
• Prices have risen
  • A relatively cool June has resulted in slower plant growth in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys
  • This weekend’s high pressure system will bring more favorable weather and spur growth, increasing yields quickly
• Good color and consistent size have been noted in recent packs from both areas

• Expect prices to strengthen further after recent gains before stabilizing or even falling amid increasing supply and steady-to weaker demand next week

Melons

Cantaloupe and honeydew production will transition north to Central California during the month of July. Markon First Crop (MFC) Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons are available.

Cantaloupe

• The Arizona/California desert is shipping adequate supplies; however, high temperatures (107 F) are slowing harvests
• Production will begin in the Fresno region July 12
• Large sizes are prevalent (nine- and jumbo nine-count fruit)
• Quality is good with occasional ground spotting and netting observed
• Expect slightly higher markets this week

Honeydew

• Arizona/California desert stocks are ample
• The Fresno season will start on July 14
• Quality is fair with some wind scarring and ground discoloration
• Sizes are dominated by jumbo five-count melons); six-count and smaller fruit is snug
• Expect steady markets as crops transition north over the next two weeks

Mixed Berries

Raspberry supplies are limited; prices are rising. Blackberries stocks are tight, but markets are stable. Blueberry growers will ship promotable volume through July.

Raspberries

• Volume continues to fall in Central Mexico due to high temperatures
  • Quality is good
  • Uneven ripening and broken fruit has been reported in some lots
• Warmer weather is forecast in California’s Watsonville growing region for the next 7 days, increasing supplies
• The industry will continue to be in a demand-exceeds-supply situation as we move into July

Blueberries

• The majority of fruit will ship from Oregon and Washington growing regions for the month of July; quality from the Pacific Northwest is exceptional
• Promotable volume is expected in California through July

Blackberries

• Yields continue to decline in Central Mexico due to high heat
  • Growers are moving quickly through fields to avoid red cell as much as possible
  • Estimates remain limited with demand meeting supply
  • Markets to remain stable but elevated
• Volume is  declining in Oxnard, California and will reach lowest production by mid-July
• Production is slowly increasing in Watsonville, California

Onions

Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions are available out of California’s San Joaquin Valley and Southern New Mexico. 

California

• After a slow start to the season, supplies have increased
• Yields are dominated by medium and jumbo sizes; colossal stocks are sufficient, while super colossals are limited
• Expect markets to hold firm for the next few weeks
• Supplies are expected to ship into August

New Mexico

• New Mexican onions are readily available
• Pack-outs also favor medium to jumbo sizes; order fulfillment of colossal and super colossal onions is steady
• Markets will remain elevated, but stable for the next few weeks
• The season will run through mid-August

2023-2024 Northwest Storage Season

• Idaho, Oregon, and Washington growers expect to have yellow onions available the first week of August; red and yellow onion production is slated to begin the week of August 7
• Colorado and Utah growers currently estimate late August start dates

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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