Asparagus

Mexican asparagus prices are rising. Heat-related quality issues are expected in the coming weeks.

Mexico

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available
• Last week’s heat wave, with temperatures 15-20 degrees above average, has decreased yields
• Heat stress is expected to affect quality; feathering tips, wrinkling, dehydration, and seed development are anticipated
• The size profile remains skewed towards standard and smaller spears; jumbo and extra-large sizes are tight
• The upcoming Holy Week holiday may affect labor availability; harvesting crews will likely be short-handed
• Expect higher pricing and an uptick in quality issues through March into early April

Peru

• The first shipments of Peruvian asparagus are arriving at East Coast ports
• Supplies will steadily increase over the next several weeks
• Quality is good; shelf-life is generally shorter due to longer transit times
• Expect minimal Peruvian availability until early April
• Pricing is generally higher than that of Mexican-grown asparagus

Avocados

Industry supplies are adequate across all growing regions; however, delays and potential shortages are expected due to labor shortages during the upcoming Holy Week, which runs from March 29 to Easter Sunday on April 5. Markon recommends increasing inventory heading into the holiday to avoid possible delays, shortages, and substitutions.

Mexico

• Although all sizes will remain plentiful, shortages are forecast due to reduced harvesting during Holy Week
• Size and grade substitutions may be needed to fill orders during Holy Week
• Markon recommends increasing inventory heading into the holiday to avoid possible delays, shortages, and substitutions
• Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported
• Expect slowly increasing markets and tighter supplies during the Holy Week holiday

California

• New crop production is in full swing
• California supplies account for 10-15% of U.S. demand
• Supplies are dominated by medium sizes (48- through 60-count fruit)
• Quality is good; firm fruit has been reported even when ripe
• Expect prices to inch up and volume to dip during Holy 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

Bell pepper supplies are limited; Mexico is struggling to meet demand due to extreme heat and lower harvestable yields. Florida is contributing very little as it recovers from winter freeze damage. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

• Mexican yields are low; high temperatures will further slow production this week
  • Quality is mixed; insect pressure is higher than in years past
  • Extra-large and No. 1 grade supplies are tight
  • The Sonora season will start in late March; growers planted fewer hectares this year
• The Florida freeze affected many of the scheduled March fields; volume is down substantially from last year
  • Remaining fields require extra grading; choice-grade supplies are most common
  • New fields will be harvested in April, bridging the gap to the Georgia season that starts in late May
• Temperatures are extremely high in the California desert region, which may accelerate the season’s start date (currently mid- to late April)
• Expect high prices through late March

Red Bells

• Mexican supplies are snug this week due to the Mexican national holiday on March 16 and the heatwave that is limiting harvestable hours
  • Growers will experience less overall availability as they harvested unripe red fields to fill green bell pepper demand over the last month
  • Quality ranges from fair to average; color issues are being reported on choice grades
• Florida volume is extremely low; expect day-by-day pallet volume only
• Prices will remain elevated over the next two weeks

Cucumbers

Cucumber supplies remain extremely tight; prices are elevated. MFC Cucumbers are limited; packer label may be substituted.

• Mexican volume is low; previous poor weather affected fields with disease and insect pressure
  • Quality is average; plain grade is most common
  • Demand is strong
• Honduran-grown shipments (arriving in Florida ports) are diminishing and will end in early April
• The Florida season has started; East Coast supplies will remain limited until production begins in Georgia in late April
• Hot-house cucumber markets remain high as buyers look for viable substitutions
• Expect elevated prices this week; relief is anticipated once East Coast crops are well-established in mid- to late April

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Markets are steady at low levels due to sufficient supplies in multiple growing regions.

• MFC Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuces are sporadic; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed
• The harvesting transition to Central California is underway; production is ending in the Arizona-California desert for the season
  • Huron and Oxnard harvests are ongoing and will continue for the next two to three weeks
  • Salinas Valley production has started, in a light way, and will ramp up in early April
  • Insect pressure is elevated in the Arizona-California desert and Huron, driven by unseasonably warm weather
  • Quality is average, as harvesting crews peel down heads to remove heat and insect-damaged outer leaves
• The Oxnard, Huron, Salinas, and Santa Maria spring seasons are 10 to 14 days early due to an unseasonably warm and mild winter; these seasons starting 10 to 14 days early has closed the projected supply gap caused by heavy rains in the Arizona-California desert regions last November and December
• Florida production is winding down; the season normally concludes in late March, but will extend through the week of April 5 this season
• Mexican stocks remain ample (crossing into South Texas); quality is very good
• Expect fairly steady markets through mid-April; supplies are forecast to tighten by late April

Limes

Lime availability continues to tighten, with weather and harvesting disruptions adding pressure across all growing regions. MFC and ESS Limes remain available.

Mexico (into South Texas)

• Market conditions continue to firm as new crop fruit costs rise
• Overall availability is tightening, with the most pressure on large sizes
• Current sizing remains skewed small, with limited opportunity for near‑term relief
• Recent light rainfall has not increased size and is slowing production
• Holy Week is expected to significantly restrict harvesting
• Markets are expected to remain elevated into April

Colombia

• Supply remains constrained, with availability still limited
• Heavy rainfall disrupted harvesting and shipping schedules
• Volume gaps are expected to surface in the coming weeks due to transit timing
• Quality is generally good, with occasional oil spotting reported
• Markets remain elevated but continue to trend below those in Mexico

Hawaii

• Excessive rainfall is slowing production
• Shipments remain approved for Canada only
• Longer lead times and tighter planning remain necessary
• Pricing is competitive relative to Mexico and Colombia

Oranges

As the California Navel orange season progresses, 113- and 138-count fruit remains extremely limited. The new crop California Valencia season will begin in late April.

California

• MFC and ESS Navel Oranges are available 
• Overall supplies of 113- and 138-count oranges will be extremely limited through the Navel season and into the Valencia season that starts in late April
• Expect to make size, grade, and Country of Origin substitutions, as well as date changes to fill orders of small fruit
• California Cara Cara oranges and Mandarins will be viable substitutions for West Coast orders
• Navel quality is good; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• Expect elevated choice- and fancy-grade prices as well as high markets for small fruit (113- and 138-supplies)

Mexico

• New crop Valencia supplies are available in Nogales, Arizona
• Quality is good: skins are light in color compared to California fruit
• Sugar levels range from 11-13 Brix
• Expect slightly elevated prices as these stocks help fill the void out of California

Florida

• Supplies are dominated by 113-count and larger sizes; 138-count oranges are limited
• Quality is fair; choice and standard grades are most abundant
• Expect steady markets over the next two weeks

Texas

• Valencia oranges will ship through April
• Quality is good; sugar levels range from 11-12 Brix
• Expect slightly elevated prices as this region helps fill the void out of California

Imported/Moroccan

• Fruit will continue to arrive on the East Coast through June
• Valencia quality is very good; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• Stocks are dominated by 113-count, fancy-grade oranges
• Expect steady markets over the next two weeks

Squash

Supplies have increased in Florida with recent ideal growing conditions. Supplies in Mexico have also improved. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

Florida

• Squash supplies have rebounded due to almost perfect growing conditions the past few weeks
• Expect steady markets to continue with ideal forecasted weather
• Georgia is expected to start in three to four weeks
• Overall quality is mixed
• Markets will remain high for several weeks

Mexico

• Sonora crops are underway, providing increased supplies of zucchini and yellow squash
• Demand has decreased, with Florida supply increasing
• Quality is good with some minor mechanical scarring seen at grade out
• Expect steady markets this week

Strawberries

The California growing regions of Santa Maria, Salinas, and Watsonville experienced extreme heat over the weekend. The elevated temperatures have caused quality challenges and reduced yields. Harvesting has ended in Florida and Mexico.

Santa Maria, California 

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Growers in this region are experiencing unseasonably high temperatures
• Counts range from 12-16 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell; size is medium to medium-plus
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• Quality is good; soft skin, decay, sunburn, and bruising are heat-related concerns
• Prices are rising

Oxnard, California

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Quality ranges from fair to good
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• Counts range from 14-16 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell; size ranges from medium to medium-plus
• Defects are minimal; growers report some misshapen, bruised fruit from packing
• Markets will increase

Watsonville/Salinas

• Temperatures are higher than normal
• Counts range from 10-15 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• Volume will fall due to the excessive heat
• Soft skin, decay, sunburn, and bruising are heat-related concerns
• Markets will climb

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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