Bell Peppers

East Coast green bell pepper production has slowed over the weekend, causing an upswing in the market. California green bells are in full production in the San Joaquin Valley. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

• California’s San Joaquin Valley, the Bakersfield growing region, is in full production
  • Quality is very good
  • All sizes and grades are available
• Central Mexico has new summer crops in the state of Coahuila beginning this week
• South Georgia production slowed over the weekend due to recent rains; quality is mixed
• The North Carolina season will begin in 7 to 10 days
• Expect slightly higher markets due to increased demand

Red Bells

• California desert volume is moderate
  • Overall quality is very good as growers are starting the first picks of the last fields
  • The transition to Bakersfield will occur on June 29, possibly straining supply levels at that time
• Stocks are limited in South Georgia
• Canadian greenhouses have increased production
• Expect steady prices over the next week, then an upward trend in late June

Broccoli

Broccoli markets are expected to climb through June as industry supplies are tightening. MFC Broccoli is available in Salinas.

Salinas/Santa Maria

• Volume will fall for the second half of June
• Higher-than-average temperatures in Salinas are forecast through the weekend
• Quality ranges from average to good
  • Some smaller heads are being reported
  • Yellow beading is minimal
• Expect markets to inch up through late June

East Coast

• The Indiana season is underway
• Production will start in Maine and Canada in July
• Harvesting has ended in the Carolinas
• The New Jersey season will start in mid-July

Central Mexico (into South Texas)

• Quality is expected to deteriorate further in the coming weeks
• Weather challenges, including rain, storms, and heat fluctuations, are impacting quality
• Hollow core and pin rot are becoming more prevalent
• Markon Best Available Broccoli and packer label are being shipped

California Strawberries

It’s peak California strawberry season. Supplies are ample, quality is excellent, and size is consistent due to ideal growing conditions. Expect weak prices.

Salinas/Watsonville

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Size is large; counts average 12 to 14 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Quality is good; occasional issues include bruising and white shoulders

Santa Maria

• Overall quality is good; some bruising and white shoulders have been reported
• Size ranges from small-medium to medium, averaging 18 to 22 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Maintaining the cold chain is vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• The majority of strawberries are going to the frozen market due to the abundance of supplies

Expect extremely limited cantaloupe supplies for the next three weeks. MFC Cantaloupe Melons and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Cantaloupe Chunks are sporadic; packer label will be shipped as needed.

Cantaloupe and Honeydew

Arizona-California Desert Region

• Cantaloupe production, regardless of size, will be critically low until growers transition to new growing regions in July
• Some suppliers have issued Force Majeure on existing contracts
• Fields have been hit by unprecedented disease pressure this season; the warm winter has led to an increase in whitefly, which harms the plants’ ability to photosynthesize
• Markets will rise through the next few weeks as demand has rapidly outpaced supply

San Joaquin Valley, California

• The harvesting transition to new crop supplies will in begin early July
• Initial volume will be modest, but yields will ramp up quickly

Honeydew

• Honeydew supplies are adequate, which has kept pricing lower, but supplies are also diminishing

Red and Yellow Potatoes

MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes are available in Idaho. Yellow potato prices are elevated; supplies are limited. Red potato markets are holding steady. Upcoming crop transitions will cause market volatility, but quality will improve over the next couple of months.

Idaho

• MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes are available
• Red storage supplies are ample
• Yellow storage stocks will be depleted by next week; California supplies will be transferred to supplement orders
• Overall quality is good
  • Reds are exhibiting excellent internal quality with strong color and smooth skins
  • Yellow potatoes may possess late-season storage issues (pressure bruising and lenticels)
• Yellow prices are higher due to strong demand

California

• Red and yellow production continues out of Bakersfield

• • All sizes are available
  • Quality is good
• • The season will wind down in late June
• Stockton supplies will start shipping in early July
  • Acreage is down this year
  • Expect tight supplies and high markets by late July
• Red prices are steady; yellow markets are slightly higher

Arizona

• Red and yellow supplies are sufficient

• • Red color is light pink
  • Minimal skinning is being reported

• Markets are holding steady

Washington

• Red and yellow yields are average
• Late-season storage quality is fair, with reports of pressure bruising and lenticels
• Pricing continues to rise

Florida

• Harvesting will wrap up in Northern Florida next week; storage supplies will ship through mid-July
• Yields are sufficient for both colors, but demand is active for yellows
• Quality is good
  • Red color is light pink
  • Lenticels are occasional issues in yellow supplies
• Markets are stable, but red prices may climb as the season winds down

Upcoming regions

• The North Carolina season will start in late June
• Production will begin in Texas and Virginia in early July

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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