Broccoli

Prices are climbing in Salinas and Santa Maria, California.

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Broccoli is available
• After a recent abundance of California supplies, availability is lower this week
  • Quality is good
  • Pin rot and yellowing are being found in some lots
• Mexican stocks (into South Texas), have increased from prior weeks; quality continues to improve
• Overall markets are expected increase over the next three to four weeks

Brussels Sprouts

The market remains elevated. Mexico continues to be the primary growing region; supplies are tight.

• MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are limited; packer label is being substituted as needed
• Late-season quality issues, including yellowing/off color, bolting, and insect pressure, have significantly reduced yields in Mexico
• The size profile is heavily skewed to smaller sprouts, as growers must harvest immature fields; jumbo-size sprouts are scarce
• Domestic sprouts are being harvested in Oxnard, California; Salinas, California production will begin in July
• Industry supplies will be extremely limited for the next two weeks at minimum; availability will increase as domestic production ramps up

Celery

Markets are beginning to ease, although overall prices remain elevated. Expect supplies to remain tight through the rest of the month.

• Oxnard production is forecast to end in early to mid-June; Santa Maria production has begun but size is skewed towards smaller packs
• Internal burn and seeder/bolting are reducing yields at the field level
• The Salinas season will start two weeks later than normal, in mid-June, due to planting delays and cold weather
• Michigan harvests will begin in early to mid-July, further easing markets
• Markets will remain active and elevated until late June

Cilantro

Prices continue to rise as mature supplies are limited in the Southern and Central Coast growing regions of California.

• RSS Cilantro is available
• Persistently low temperatures, coupled with delayed or missed plantings caused by heavy rains, are tightening harvestable product
• Quality has improved from prior weeks; yellowing is less prevalent
• Markets are expected to remain elevated for the next three weeks, until younger plantings are ready to be harvested

From the Fields: Leaf and Lettuce Quality

Leaf lettuce crops in California’s Salians Valley have begun exhibiting varying levels of internal burn and tip burn after several days of wet, humid mornings followed by warm afternoons; the longer daylight hours are also a factor. Apart from the burn issues, these conditions have also caused an increase in insect pressure in some lots.

Harvesting crews will be working to minimize defects, but they cannot eliminate them completely from commodity and value-added packs. Markon First Crop (MFC) Green Leaf and Romaine items are limited; Markon Best Available is being substituted as needed.

Supplies are ample and demand is weak, so growers are starting to skip acres that are the most affected and move into younger lots. Quality is expected to improve gradually, but expect to see hit or miss issues for the next two weeks.

From the Fields: Salinas Valley Rain

A low-pressure system is currently passing over the Salinas Valley bringing light scattered showers today, Tuesday, June 6. Rainfall totals are expected to be less than a ¼” with minimal production delays.

Growers and harvesting crews are taking measures to keep cartons as clean and dry as possible. Markon inspectors will monitor weather and quality conditions of commodity and value-added lettuce items closely following the rain and will update further as needed.

Independence Day Schedule 2023

Markon’s buying office will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

Listed below are the loading hours for key suppliers and commodities:

• Markon’s Salinas consolidation dock, Misionero/Coastal Cooling, will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. PDT
• Taylor Farms’ loading dock will be open normal hours
• 4Earth’s consolidation dock will be open normal hours
  • The Los Angeles Produce Market will be closed
  • 4Earth will not be able to purchase off the market
• Northwest potato shipper’s sales offices and loading docks will be closed
• Onion sheds will be closed in California and New Mexico

Mixed Berries

Raspberry and blackberry demand is strong; markets are elevated but growers expect price relief in late June.

Raspberries

• Volume continues to downtrend in Central Mexico due to high temperatures
• Quality is good; uneven ripening has been reported in some lots
• Stocks are slowly increasing in Baja, Mexico and Oxnard, California; expect both regions to reach peak production in late June
• The industry is in a demand-exceeds-supply situation
• Pricing will increase as the Central Mexican season continues to wind down

Blueberries

• Central Mexico, the primary growing region, is past its peak
• Volume is climbing in Baja, Mexico; expect ample supplies
• The California season has begun and will ramp up quickly week over week
• Prices will remain steady

Blackberries

• Yields continue to decline in Central Mexico
• Harvesting is increasing in Oxnard, California; the season’s peak will be reached in mid-June
• Expect abundant supplies in Watsonville, California by early July
• Growers have begun harvesting in North Carolina; volume is low but will increase in late June
• The industry is in a demand-exceeds-supply situation
• Supplies will slowly increase through the month of June

Onions

The onion season is winding down in California’s Imperial Valley. New crop production is increasing in New Mexico.         

California

• Many Southern California growers will wrap up operations for the season this weekend
  • Few sheds will pack onions next week
  • Although supplies have diminished, prices have eased due to New Mexico entering the market
• Central and Northern California harvests will begin late next week
  • Sizing and availability are uncertain at this time
  • Rain that soaked the growing areas this past winter and early spring will impact yields

New Mexico

• Yellow onion supplies are sufficient; red and white onions are tight as the season is just getting underway
• Supplies will begin to ramp up next week
• Markets opened high; expect prices to hold firm until Central and Northern California volume increases

Potatoes

Sufficient supplies of MFC Burbank and Norkotah Potatoes are available.

Storage Crop

• Large sizes (40- through 70-count potatoes) are ample; smaller sizes (100- through 6 oz. No. 2 supplies) remain limited
• Quality remains great for both varieties; pack-outs favor No. 1 quality, with limited No. 2 availability
• Norkotah stocks are expected to be depleted by mid-June; Burbanks will be the sole variety for the remainder of the season
• Limited Idaho Burbank stocks are expected to ship through late July/early August
• Washington supplies will be depleted by mid-July
• Advanced order lead-time is highly recommended for order fulfillment

Potatoes (Red and Yellow)

Storage crop MFC Red and Yellow Potato supplies are tight. Prices are expected to climb.

Idaho

• Many suppliers have depleted storage stocks and are hauling potatoes from other regions to continue shipping out of Idaho, prices will rise
• MFC Red and Yellow Idaho Colored Potatoes will ship through July; volume is adequate 
• New crop Idaho potatoes will become available at the end of August

North Dakota

• MFC Red Potatoes will be available through mid-July
• New crop red and yellow potatoes will begin to ship during the first week of August

Florida

• Colored potato stocks are winding down (with approximately one week remaining in the season)

California

• Red and yellow potato harvesting has begun
• Prices are elevated
• Potatoes will ship through early August
• Early yields are thin-skinned, resulting in mechanical damage in pack-outs

Washington

• The Washington storage season has ended
• The new crop season is expected to get underway in mid-July

Wisconsin

• New crop harvesting of MFC Wisconsin Potatoes will begin in early August

Squash

Although squash production is transitioning north on both coasts through the month of June, markets are expected to remain steady.

• Harvests are winding down in Mexico’s northern regions of Sonora; new crop production will commence on the Baja Peninsula this week
• California’s Santa Maria/Fresno season has begun
  • Quality is very good
  • Yellow squash is snug due to cooler weather
• Georgia is into mid-season harvests; yields are lower
• Growers are expected to limited production in North Carolina and New Jersey this week
• Expect steady pricing over the next two weeks as new growing regions get established

Strawberries

Early week rainfall in the Salinas/Watsonville growing region will help market prices firm up for the remainder of the week. Expect a continued supply-exceeds-demand market through the month of June.

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available

• Fruit size is medium (12 to 16 berries per one-pound clamshell)
• Season estimated to run through early July
• Quality is good; some mechanical bruising has been reported

Salinas/Watsonville

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Rain reported on June 6^th will help firm up the market for the remainder of the week

• Fruit size is large (9 to 12 berries per one-pound clamshell)
• Quality is good; some mildew has been reported due to continued overcast and wet mornings

Oxnard

• Supplies are extremely limited; most suppliers are done for the season
• Remaining quality is fair

Stone Fruit

The California stone fruit season has begun. Volume is minimal but will ramp up through June.

Peaches/Nectarines

• The season will run from June to mid-September
• Peaches and nectarines are currently available
• Good quality is forecast: sugar levels typically range from 10 to 11 Brix
• The Georgia peach season is underway with extremely minimal volume
• Pricing is elevated but will decline as supplies ramp up

Plums

• The California season will run from mid-June to mid-October
• The season has been delayed 7-10 days due to abnormally cool weather
• Fruit will begin shipping the week of June 15
• Expect elevated markets to start but prices will decline once supplies ramp up

Apricots

• The California season will run from mid-June to mid-September
• Fruit will begin shipping in mid-June
• Good quality is forecast: sugar levels range between 12 and 16 Brix (sweetness/flavor will peak in late June)

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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