Asparagus

Prices are starting to rise. Mexico’s Caborca season is winding down; cool weather is slowing growth. The Peruvian season has ended. Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available.

Mexico

• Quality ranges from good to very good
• Production is past its peak in Caborca, Mexico; harvesting will transition west towards the Baja peninsula, as a bridge between the Caborca and Central Mexico season in early June
• All sizes are readily available with minimal price spreads between small and large sizes, but markets are inching higher across the board
• Expect prices to climb, especially as strong demand ramps up for the Easter holiday in April

Peru

• Supplies are no longer shipping into Florida; hot weather during the Peruvian summer combined with competitive Mexican markets have forced growers to cease production at this time of year
• Should tariffs add costs to Mexican supplies, Peru may act as a small relief valve, but this region will not be able to support all national demand and provide only minimal relief until at least early May

Avocados

Industry supplies remain adequate. Mexican growers have reduced pricing for next week’s loading, as the 25% tariff has been removed.

Mexico

• Large sizes (32- to 48-count fruit) remain tight, as Mexican growers continue to slow harvesting, driving up demand
• Size and grade substitutions may be requested to fill orders
• Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported
• Expect elevated markets and tight supplies for the next three weeks

California

• Expect limited harvesting through next week due to rain
• Mexican-grown fruit may need to be substituted to fill orders
• Supplies are dominated by medium sizes (48- through 60-count fruit)
• Elevated markets and tight supplies are forecast through next week

Colombia

• Imports will ship into the East Coast through May; these supplies only account for 5% of U.S. demand
• The crop is currently dominated by small sizes (60- to 84-count fruit)
• Quality is comparable to that in Mexico; texture is creamy and oil content is high

Bell Peppers

Green bell pepper supplies are tightening this week; markets are increasing. The Mexican red bell pepper season is at its peak; however, volume into Nogales, Arizona is low due to reduced border crossings.

Green Bells

• MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green Bell Peppers are available
• Florida’s production is adequate; however, cooler weather (low 70s) will slow growth
  • All sizes are available
  • Quality is good
• Mexican stocks are moderate despite ideal growing conditions
  • Some growers opted to keep fruit nationally due to depressed markets and early week tariff implications
  • Stocks (into Nogales) are tight today
• Expect higher prices over the next two weeks

Red Bells

• MFC and ESS Red Bell Peppers are available
• Yields are ample in Western Mexico due to favorable weather
  • Quality is very good; all sizes are available
  • Growers halted some shipments to the borders due to tariff implications
  • Expect tight supplies into Nogales this weekend
• Volume is low out of Florida this week
• Canadian greenhouses will start shipping limited supplies at the end of March
• Expect higher prices this week

Citrus

Expect steady markets and ample supplies through the month of April.

Oranges

• MFC and ESS Navel Oranges are available
• Growers are currently shipping out of Arizona, California, Florida, and Mexico
• Supplies are dominated by small sizes (113- through 138-count fruit) but slowly shifting to larger sizes (72- through 88-count fruit)
• Quality is excellent

Lemons

• MFC and ESS Lemons are available  
• Supplies are dominated by small sizes (140- through 165-count fruit)
• Markets for 95- through 115-count supplies have inched down
• Quality is excellent

Cauliflower

Markets are rising as demand strengthens and supplies tighten. ESS Cauliflower is available; packer label is being substituted as necessary.

• Production is winding down in the California/Arizona desert region
  • Harvesting will begin in Salinas, California in late March/early April
  • Minimal volume is shipping from Santa Maria, California
• Quality is fairly good, but this week’s rain is expected to cause discoloration/black spotting, bruising, and reduced shelf-life; suppliers are packing ahead to mitigate these issues
• Pricing will continue to climb through March, as yields in the desert diminish and demand increases

Chile Peppers

Chile pepper markets remain volatile as tariff uncertainties have slowed U.S. crossings. Growers held product in Mexico earlier this week due to stronger domestic demand but are now resuming shipments into the United States.

• Volume is gradually recovering as border crossings increase in South Texas, Nogales, Arizona, and Otay Mesa, California
• Suppliers are well-positioned to fulfill orders as shipments continue to increase
• The spring transition could cause supply gaps, as reduced field maintenance from depressed markets has impacted yields
• Expect prices to remain elevated through the end of next week

From the Fields: Desert Rain

The Arizona/California desert growing region expects light to moderate showers later this evening due to a low-pressure system moving into the area. Less than .25” is anticipated for the main areas of Coachella, Imperial Valley, and Yuma, but a cold front will bring periods of moderate to heavy showers on Thursday, March 13. An additional half inch of rain is forecast with this second storm, which will cause production disruptions and loading delays moving into the weekend.

Markon is working with suppliers to pack orders ahead in anticipation of harvest cancelations. Our inspectors will be evaluating field conditions and desert row crop quality closely following the rain. Some of the potential challenges that may develop include but are not limited to:

• Bottom rot/decay
• Elevated dirt/mud in commodity and some lightly processed items
• Increased mechanical damage
• Mildew pressure in lettuces and possibly broccoli
• Premature pinking in commodity and some value-added lettuce items
• Shortened shelf-life potential

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Green leaf, iceberg, and romaine prices are climbing amid rising demand, tightening supplies, and rain events in the Arizona/California desert this week.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available  
• Rain is forecast to begin this evening, totaling 0.25” or less in the Arizona/California desert regions; an additional storm with rainfall of 0.50” or more is forecast for Thursday
  • The rain events this week may curtail harvesting if field conditions are unsuitable for crews and machinery
  • Markon is working with grower-shippers to pack ahead as needed to ensure coverage
• Insect pressure continues to be a concern following February’s warm weather; increased presence is expected through the duration of the Yuma season
• The Arizona/California desert season is winding down; some growers will finish in late March with others concluding by early to mid-April
• A handful of growers will begin harvesting in Huron and Oxnard, California by mid- to late March
• The Salinas season will begin in early to mid-April

Red and Yellow Potatoes

MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes are available in Idaho and North Dakota. Some regions are wrapping up production; harvesting transitions to new crop fields in Arizona, California, and Northern Florida are coming up in May.

Idaho

• MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes will ship through July; volume is adequate 
• Red and yellow quality is very good; No. 2 grade supplies are limited
• Demand is steady
• Supplies are adequate; all sizes are being shipped
• Expect steady prices

North Dakota

• MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes will ship through May
• Quality is good reducing the availability of No. 2 grade reds and yellows
• Sluggish retail demand for A size reds and yellows is tightening supplies on the byproduct B and C sizes
• Pricing is holding steady due to adequate mixer volume

Washington

• Red and yellow potatoes will be available through May
• Quality is good
• Size A stocks are extremely tight Size B supplies and creamers are adequate

• Markets are holding steady

Colorado

• Red and yellow potatoes will be available through April
• Quality is good
• Mixer volume is sufficient for all sizes

• Prices remain steady

Florida

• Southern and Central Florida red and yellow potatoes will be available into April
• Northern Florida will start production in mid- to late April and run through June
• All sizes are adequate;
  • Quality is very good
  • No. 2 grade stocks are limited
• Markets are holding steady

Squash

Squash markets are rising this week due to harvesting transitions in Mexico and Florida; yellow squash is especially snug. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

• Mexico’s production has slowed due to growers moving away from older fields in Sinaloa
  • Yellow squash volume is low this week
  • Quality is mixed
  • New fields in the state of Sonora will harvested later this week
• Florida yellow squash is limited due to fewer plantings and field transitions
  • Zucchini supplies are adequate but starting to decrease
  • Overall quality is good
  • Yields will be snug for two weeks until new crop production starts
• Expect prices to increase over the next two weeks

Strawberries

Rain is forecast for Santa Maria and Oxnard, California this Wednesday, March 12 through Thursday, April 14.

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available; packer label may be substituted as needed
• Expect harvesting cancelations on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13 due to rain
• Supplies will be limited for the rest of the week
• Quality is fair: pin rot and bruising are predicted
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns

Oxnard

• MFC Strawberries are available; packer label may be substituted as needed
• Expect harvesting cancelations on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13 due to rain
• Supplies will be limited through this week
• Quality is fair: pin rot and bruising are issues
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns

Mexico (into South Texas)

• Peak season has passed; yields have started to drop
• Size currently ranges from 18-26 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Quality is good; uneven ripening and light bruising have been reported
• The season will end on approximately March 15

Florida

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Supplies have increased; the season will run through mid-April
• Size currently ranges from 15-22 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Quality is improving with ideal weather
• Demand has fallen due to peak season

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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