Cauliflower

Markets are falling as supplies increase in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valley regions. Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is readily available.

• Favorable weather and weak demand have allowed fields to size up
• Overall quality is good; discoloration and yellowing are occasional issues
• High temperatures are expected through the weekend, further aiding growth
• Current plantings for June are promising in terms of quality and volume; ample yields are forecast for several weeks
• Regional supplies out of Maine, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey will come online in early July
  • Weather has been ideal for growth
  • Plentiful supplies are expected
• Low prices will persist for the next two weeks as ample supplies and steady demand continue

Celery

The Salinas Valley season is ramping up. Oxnard production is winding down; the season will conclude mid-June.

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Celery is readily available
• Oxnard MFC harvests will finish Wednesday, June 4; Salinas production is scheduled to start the same day as growers build MFC inventory
• Santa Maria production will continue year-round
• The Michigan season will start in early to mid-July and continue into October
• Markets should remain steady during the transition from Oxnard to Salinas

Cucumbers

Prices are low; supplies are abundant on the East Coast and in Mexico. MFC Cucumbers are available.

• The Georgia season will be ending over the next two weeks
• Harvesting has started in North Carolina this week
• Production is underway in multiple regions of Mexico
  • Sonora shade house supplies will ship through late June
  • Baja and Central Mexico are harvesting newer crops with the best quality
• Expect weak prices over the next two weeks, weather permitting

Grapes

Mexican green and red grape supplies continue to tighten. Early estimates state growers lost 50% of harvest on red grapes and 30% on green grapes due to storm damage.

• ESS Grapes are available   
• Red grapes are seeing most immediate damage as they were in peak maturity with high brix levels
• High brix levels combined with rain will cause splitting of the grapes
• Growers are directing crews to focus on red grape harvest, in turn slowing harvest on green grapes
• Quality is expected to be good; mold and split grapes are expected
• Quality control crews will double their efforts to ensure the best quality available upon shipping
• The California season is expected to begin mid-July
• Expect extremely low volume and elevated markets for the next six weeks

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuces

Green leaf prices remain steady at lower levels due to abundant supplies. Iceberg weights have rebounded, pushing prices lower. Romaine markets are steady to slightly higher due to quality issues.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted sporadically due to low weights
• Recent weather patterns in the Salinas Valley have led to an increase in insect pressure and mildew; warm weather forecast today and tomorrow will further promote insect presence
• Disease pressure continues to be manageable; some growers are reporting increased levels of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV); however, it is not widespread
• Steady markets are expected into mid-June, barring a significant increase in disease pressure affecting yields

Live From the Fields: Thrip and INSV Pressure

Please click here to view a Markon Live from the Fields video about an increase in the presence of thrip insects and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) in some lettuce and leaf fields from California’s Salinas Valley.

• Two significant heat spikes were recorded in mid- and late May
• The warm, dry conditions have been ideal for insects such as thrips to flourish
• Thrip insects commonly cause orange speckled blemishes on various lettuce crops
  • If infected with INSV, they will spread the disease to the plants they feed on
  • Infected plants will develop necrotic lesions throughout the leaves that will make the heads unmarketable
  • Fields that are severely impacted by INSV can see dramatic yield loss
• Currently, the presence of INSV is not widespread, but combined with other soil diseases such as sclerotinia and fusarium wilt, some growers’ yields are falling
• Markon inspectors are closely monitoring the situation and will update further as needed

Live From the Fields: Salinas Valley Heat-Related Challenges

After a brief heat wave throughout California’s Salinas Valley growing region, some fields and varieties are developing heat-related challenges, primarily on lettuce and tender leaf items. Markon inspectors are observing quality challenges such as:

• Dehydration/wilting
• Growth cracks
• Increased insect pressure
• Internal burn/tip burn
• Discoloration/yellowing leaves
• Shortened shelf-life

Markon inspectors will continue to work closely with suppliers, evaluating commodity and value-added items while working to minimize heat-related challenges.

As always, cold chain management throughout the supply chain is critical for maximizing the quality and shelf-life of perishable produce items.

Mixed Berries

The Mexican mixed berry-growing regions are shifting from extreme heat to their rainy season. Quality will improve due to these cooler temperatures.

Blueberries

• Mexican production has passed the seasonal peak
  • Quality is good
  • Size is consistent
• Harvesting has begun in California’s San Joaquin Valley; quality is very good
• Florida volume is down; the season has been shortened due to weather
• Georgia stocks have been directed to the frozen market due to quality
• The Pacific Northwest season will begin in mid-June, followed by British Columbia and Washington in July
• Expect the market to remain steady

Blackberries

• Supplies have increased significantly
• Demand is steady
• Quality is good; heat-related issues include cell regression (which is when the black cells shrink and become red) and softness
• California growers have started limited harvesting in the San Joaquin Valley
• Expect low prices

Raspberries

• Medium-sized berries dominate availability

• Quality is good; expect strong red color and firm texture
• California’s Watsonville/Salinas region will begin harvesting in July
• Expect markets to inch down

Seedless Lemons

Seedless lemons will ship through June 14.

• Harvesting will end in mid-June; new crop production will start in early November 2025
• March’s extreme heat decimated the summer crop that typically runs from July through September; there will be a supply gap between seasons
• Conventional lemons can be substituted to fill orders

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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