Avocados (Mexico)

Avocado harvesting, packing, and shipping operations have started back in Michoacan, Mexico with limitations. The Mexican federal and state governments, along with industry leaders, are committed to settling these issues. Markon will continue to update as news develops.

• Inventories of Michoacan, Mexican avocados are low
  • Michoacan has received rain in the front half of the week as Mexico enters their rainy season which will have a negative impact on the current Normal Crop supplies
  • On a positive note, the rain will help size up the next (Loca) crop and is expected to begin shipping in two to three weeks
• California and Peruvian stocks will be shipped to help fill the void but will not meet U.S. demand
• Size, grade, and country of origin substitutions may be requested to fill orders
• Expect markets to level out and slowly decline in late July

Bell Peppers

Red bell pepper supplies are very limited; prices are high. Green bell pepper supplies are improving. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green are available, Red Bell Peppers are limited.

Red Bells

• Supplies are limited due to hot temperatures ending crops early in Coachella, California
• Bakersfield region has been experiencing heat waves over 105°F the last two weeks, helping the ripening process; Growers will start harvesting this weekend
• Some shippers are bridging the California gap with product of Mexico; quality is good and mediums are most prevalent
• Eastern Canadian greenhouses are light due to warm temperatures and some sporadic disease concerns
• Expect continued elevated markets over the next two weeks

Green Bells

• The California season has transitioned to Bakersfield and supplies are increasing
  • Sizing is stepping down with additional large and mediums available, quality is good
• North Carolina has good supply on all sizes, quality is good
• The Georgia season is mostly done with very little supply and should be completely done by the end of the week
• Regional summer deals in Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are experiencing excellent weather/growing conditions; expect an early start this season around the week of June 30
• Expect lower prices next week

Broccoli

MFC Premium Broccoli is available in Salinas, California; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being packed in Central Mexico (loading in South Texas).

• California supplies are insufficient to meet increased demand, but availability is on the rise and pricing on the decline this week
  • Total planted acreage trends down this time of year to account for regional deals cropping up across the U.S. and Canada
  • East Coast regions including Quebec, Ontario, Maine, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas will be harvested throughout the summer months
  • Santa Maria and Salinas prices have peaked and are expected to fall through the next two weeks
    • Quality is fair
    • Aesthetic defects like branchy crown structure, hollow cores, and yellowing are minor but prevalent
• Mexican-grown product is extremely tight
  • Prices have peaked, but remain elevated and comparable to West Coast markets
  • Quality is below average; high heat has increased crown size and caused elevated insect pressure, hollow cores, and floret bruising
• Expect high markets to persist as July begins but they should tail off as domestic/local yields pick up and cooler weather moves into the Central Mexico region

Brussels Sprouts

• MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are limited
• The Mexican season is ending; supplies are nearly depleted
• California’s Oxnard and Santa Maria seasons are ongoing; Salinas Valley production will begin in early to mid-July
• Size is dominated by small sprouts; jumbo and medium sprouts are scarce
• Domestic stocks are being harvested earlier than scheduled to meet demand
• Insect pressure, puffy texture, seeder, and small size are limiting harvestable product for commodity packs
• Expect markets to escalate next week and remain elevated through the first week of July, when Salinas Valley harvests begin

Cucumbers

Cucumber markets are easing as hot and favorable weather on the East Coast push up start dates.

• Southeast/East regions are experiencing favorable growing conditions and transitions are occurring over the next two weeks
  • South Georgia season is expected to run until first week of July, depending on weather
  • Western North Carolina is starting while eastern North Carolina has finished up
  • New Jersey has been going for a couple of weeks and supplies are increasing
  • Michigan is expected to start lightly on July 1 with ramped up volume by the middle of the month
  • Overall quality is good in all new eastern growing regions
• Mexican production out of the Baja Peninsula continues to increase as more growers come online
  • All grades are available; quality is nice
• The few Sonora suppliers remaining will finish up this week; quality is average at best
• Expect prices to ease over the next two weeks as summer regions take hold

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuce

Iceberg markets continue to decline. Green leaf and romaine prices are steady at low levels.

Iceberg

• MFC Premium Iceberg Lettuce is available; MBA is being substituted sporadically due to low weights.

• California quality is very good; some fields are uneven in density and size, but heads are being sorted in the fields
• Supplies have been limited in Central Mexico due to extended periods of dry, hot weather; demand is shifting to the West Coast, but recent cooling and rains have improved the short-term outlook
• Regionally available product from Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey is set to begin entering the market in limited quantities, supplementing industry availability and easing prices
• Expect markets to continue decreasing through July

Green Leaf and Romaine

• MFC Premium Green Leaf and Romaine Lettuces are readily available
• California quality is very good; insect pressure and wind damage are being reported in some lots
• East Coast production will start in early July out of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Quebec, and Ontario, further reducing demand on the West Coast
• Expect weak prices through to continue into July

Limes

Storms in the gulf are bringing heavy rains to Eastern Mexico, causing delays in harvest and transit; markets are rising. MFC and ESS Limes are available. 

• Heavy rain in the primary growing region of Veracruz, Mexico is slowing production; flooded roads are delaying crossings through U.S. ports of entry
• Stocks are dominated by smaller, 200- through 250-count sizes
• Larger sizes, 110- through 175-count, are extremely limited

• Colombian supplies are being substituted as needed to cover larger sizes
• Quality is good to fair; expect increased stylar, oil spotting, and decay due to heavy rain following weeks of severe drought conditions
• Expect rising markets and lighter supplies for the next three to four weeks
• Markon recommends placing orders with increased lead time to maximize coverage and avoid delays

Melons

The domestic Arizona-California desert season is winding down ahead of the transition to California’s Central Valley growing regions. Markets are slightly higher. MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew are available.

Cantaloupe

• The domestic Arizona-California desert season is winding down; prices are slightly higher
• California’s Central Valley harvests will start in a limited manner the week of July 1

• Supplies are dominated by larger (9-count) fruit; smaller (12- and 15-count) fruit is extremely limited
• Markon may recommend substituting with larger fruit over the next 7-10 days

• Quality is good; soft texture, ground spotting, and green cast are occasional issues
• Expect markets to rise over the next one to two weeks as supplies transition North

Honeydew

• Mexican supplies are limited as the season winds down

• The Arizona-California desert season is coming to an end ahead of transition; prices are slightly higher
• Harvests are expected to start in California’s Central Valley in a limited manner the week of July 8

• Supplies are dominated by larger (5- and 6-count) fruit; smaller (8-count) sizes are extremely limited
• Markon may recommend substituting with larger fruit over the next week

• Quality is good; soft fruit, ground spotting, and scarring are occasional issues

• Expect markets to rise over the next one to two weeks

Onions

Onion markets are active due to strong demand. Isolated thunderstorms in New Mexico are curtailing harvests, causing delays, and shifting demand into California.

Northern California

• MFC Onions are available
• The Huron and Bakersfield seasons are in full swing
• Quality is very good; loose skins and flaking are typical of fresh-run onions
• Markets are showing strength as demand increases
• Yellow onions are dominated by jumbo supplies; medium supplies are increasing
• Red onions are dominated by medium sizes
• White onion stocks are steady

New Mexico

• MFC Onions are available
• Quality is good; light sunburn and loose skins have been reported
• Prices are rising due to strong demand
• Super colossal and colossal yellows are limited but increasing; the size profile is leaning towards jumbo
• Jumbo red onions will tighten as medium supplies become more plentiful
• White onion markets are rising quickly with very active demand from Mexico

Oranges

California small size Valencia supplies are tightening. Imported Navel volumes will increase over the next two to three weeks as the Chilean and South African seasons begin.

California

• MFC and ESS California Valencia Oranges are available
• Navel supplies are winding down for the season
• Valencia supplies are dominated by large sizes (56- to 88-count packs); smaller sizes (113- to 138-count packs) are tightening
• Quality is great; sugar levels range from 10-13 Brix
• Expect increasing markets and tight supplies through September

Chile

• Chilean fruit is being imported into both coasts

• Expect low volume at the start; supplies will increase week over week
• Quality is great; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• Supplies will be dominated by larger packs

South Africa

• South African fruit is being imported into the East Coast
• Expect low volume at the start; supplies will increase week over week
• There is limited availability of 105- to 125-count packs

Strawberries

Although temperatures have remained steady, growers have finished the season in Oxnard due to depressed markets; production will end early in Santa Maria. With strong Fourth of July demand beginning next week, prices will become active.

Santa Maria, California

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Quality is good
• Pack fill ranges from 21 to 24 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 32 to 40 per 4/2-pound packs
• Size is dominated by small and medium fruit

• Occasional overripening and light bruising are being reported

• Expect markets to rise

Salinas/Watsonville, California

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Size ranges from 15 to 17 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 30 to 32 in 4/2-pound clamshells
• Quality is good; expect full color and sweet flavor
• Fanning, misshaped berries, and light bruising are being reported
• Medium to large fruit dominate pack outs
• Expect markets to rise

Tomatoes

Tomato production is transitioning further north on both coasts over the next two weeks. Romas and grape tomatoes are snug; markets are slightly higher due to poor weather and lower volume. MFC Tomatoes are available.

• Mexico is shipping Roma, round, cherry, and grape tomatoes out of Baja and Eastern Mexico
  • Tropical Storm Alberto will disrupt some harvesting in Eastern Mexico over the next week
  • Overall quality is good; all sizes are available
• California’s recent hot weather (108F) is stressing plants and reducing yields in Coachella
• The Central Valley season has started in a light way with more growers expected to begin shipping July 15
• Eastern Coast tomatoes will transition north over the next month
  • The Quincy/Northern Florida season ended this week
  • Arkansas is harvesting adequate quantities of round and Roma tomatoes; growers will ship through the first week of July
  • Summer regional harvests will start in Alabama on June 23, in North Carolina on July 1, and Tennessee on July 5; expect peak volume two weeks after commencing
• Expect slightly higher grape and Roma prices over the next two weeks during transitions to new regions

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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