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UPDATE SUMMARY: WEEK OF MARCH 6, 2023

March 9, 2023

Broccoli

Imperial Valley, California/Yuma, Arizona/Santa Maria, California

  • Markon First Crop (MFC) Broccoli is available
  • Arizona/California desert supplies are sufficient to meet demand
    • Quality is very good
    • Warmer weather this upcoming weekend and into next week will spur growth, driving markets down
  • Imperial Valley stocks are winding down with suppliers aiming to clean up fields ahead of the seasonal transition
  • Volume will dip by late March and remain low through the month of April

Mexico (into South Texas)

  • MFC Broccoli is available
  • Prices are rising
    • Demand is strong in the South Texas loading locations
    • Growers are also transitioning harvests to higher elevation fields, decreasing yields until the move is complete
  • Quality is very good
    • Some mechanical damage has been noted along with occasional mildew
    • Prices are expected to remain higher than average into next week

Cauliflower

Imperial Valley and Santa Maria, California/Yuma, Arizona/Northern Baja, Mexico

    • Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is available; packer label may be substituted as needed
    • Warm weather is promoting growth and will increase stocks
    • Quality is average; mold, off-color, and inconsistent size are being observed in some lots
    • Production is winding down in Imperial Valley, California; most suppliers will finish harvesting in this region before moving to Salinas and Santa Maria, California in early to mid-April
    • Markon is anticipating a supply gap as the desert season ends and the Salinas and Santa Maria growing areas start up

Celery

  • Persistently cold and windy weather is slowing growth and limiting harvestable supplies in the Arizona and California growing regions
  • The Arizona/California desert season is winding down; some suppliers will finish in early March with the balance transitioning production back to Oxnard, California by late March
  • Florida supplies remain available; markets are expected to inch up as demand increases in all growing regions
  • Expect continued rising prices over the next month, unless warmer weather increases growth

Citrus

Forecasts call for rain in California’s citrus growing regions this weekend and next week. Growers have been harvesting in front of this next wave of precipitation to keep supply levels elevated. Markets are expected to rise next week. Advanced ordering is recommended going into next week (3/13-3/18).

Lemons

  • MFC and ESS Lemons are available  
  • Production continues in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California
  • Rain will slow production but storage supplies are being built up to provide coverage over the next couple of weeks
  • Markets are expected to climb into next week due to increased demand for Lenten season
  • Quality remains excellent

Oranges

  • MFC and ESS Navel Oranges are available
  • Rain in California will limit crews’ ability to harvest for the next seven days; orchards need at least two days without rain to harvest
  • Demand is expected to exceed supply next week; advanced ordering is recommended
  • Current quality is excellent; sugar levels are high
  • Limited supplies of domestic Valencias are available; Mexican Valencia volume is adequate (crossing into Texas)
  • Florida Valencias are also available

Cucumbers

Cucumber prices are easing due to weakening demand and increased supplies. MFC and ESS Cucumbers are available.

  • Mexico will ship sufficient supplies and great quality during the month of March, barring any unforeseen weather events
  • The Honduran import season (into Florida) will wind down over the next two weeks; current quality varies from lot to lot
  • Florida spring harvests have started in a limited manner
    • Volume will build over the next three weeks as more growers come online
    • Expect favorable yields due to excellent weather/growing conditions
  • Markets will continue to ease over the next two weeks

From the Fields: Wind-related Issues Persist

Markon inspectors continue to observe wind-related issues in commodity and value-added lettuce items in the Arizona/California desert region. Several commodity leaf lettuce packs have been substituted into Markon Best Available (MBA) due to elevated levels of dirt. Quality-alert flyers have been implemented in lightly prepped, value-added packs that are difficult to get completely free of dirt despite a thorough wash process.

Most recently, defects such as fringe burn and wind damage have been noted in finished packs of some romaine-based salads. Harvesting and processing crews are working to mitigate these issues but won’t be able to completely remove them. Markon inspectors expect to see dirt levels subside in the coming days, but varying levels of wind damage may continue for another week or longer.

Green Leaf

  • MFC Green Leaf is sporadic due to elevated levels of dirt following high winds and dust storms in the Arizona/California desert growing regions; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted, as needed
  • Quality is good; epidermal blistering and peeling are present in some lots
  • Supplies are abundant, holding markets steady at low levels
  • The spring harvesting transition will begin in three weeks
    • Some grower-shippers will move to Huron, California and Oxnard, California in late March
    • Harvesting will begin in Salinas, California in early April
    • Production in the Arizona/California desert growing regions will be depleted by late April

Iceberg

  • MFC Iceberg is sporadic due light weights following cold temperatures and high winds in the Arizona/California desert growing regions; MBA is being substituted, as needed
  • Quality is good; epidermal blistering/peeling and growth cracks are being reported in some fields
  • Supplies are adequately meeting demand at average prices
  • The spring transition will begin in three weeks and run through early May
    • Some grower shippers will move to Huron and Oxnard in late March
    • Harvesting will begin in Salinas in early April; the latest start date in Salinas is the week of May 8 (roughly three weeks behind the typical latest start date)
    • Production in the Arizona/California desert growing regions will be depleted by mid- to late April

Onions

The Northwest storage onion season is winding down. Texas-grown yellow onions will hit the market this week.

Storage Crop

  • Utah-grown MFC Onions will be depleted by March 18
  • Idaho/Oregon-grown MFC Onions will be available through early April
  • Washington-grown MFC Onions will ship through mid-April

New Crop

  • Texas MFC Yellow Onions will begin shipping this Wednesday; red and white onion production will get started next week
  • Mexican onions (crossings into South Texas) are readily available
  • The Southern California desert season is not expected to get started until the week of April 24
  • New Mexican onions will hit the market in early June
  • Central and Northern California onions will also get going by early June

Romaine

  • MFC Romaine is sporadic due to elevated levels of dirt and light weights following inclement weather; MBA is being substituted, as needed
  • Quality is good; epidermal blistering/peeling and wind damage are being observed in many lots
  • Supplies are ample, holding markets steady at low levels
  • The spring transition will begin in three weeks
    • Some grower shippers will move to Huron and Oxnard in late March
    • Harvesting will begin in Salinas in early April
    • Production in the Arizona/California desert growing regions will be depleted by late April

Squash

Spring squash harvesting will transition to new crop growing regions during the month of March. Yellow squash markets are climbing due to extremely limited supplies.

  • MFC Zucchini is available; MFC Yellow Squash is sporadic
  • Mexican zucchini volume will fall over the next week as growers begin transitioning from Sinaloa to Sonora; yellow squash is snug due to past cold weather
  • Florida squash will transition from South Florida to Plant City over the next two weeks, increasing overall availability
    • Zucchini quality has improved
    • Yellow squash quality is average
  • Expect elevated yellow squash prices to persist over the next two weeks while zucchini markets will increase slightly

Strawberries

Supplies remain extremely limited in California. All member DCs are advised to load out of South Texas or Florida for the best possible coverage.

Santa Maria, California 

  • Stocks remain extremely limited; harvesting has been impacted by rain and cold overnight temperatures
  • The industry is in a demand-exceeds-supply situation
  • Quality concerns include soft skin, decay, white shoulders, and pin rot
  • Expect strong demand and elevated markets through the month of March

Oxnard, California

  • Volume remains extremely low; harvesting has been impacted by rain and cold overnight temperatures
  • Quality concerns include soft skin, decay, white shoulders, and pin rot
  • Size is medium (approximately 14 to 18 berries per one-pound clamshell)
  • Expect strong demand and elevated markets through the month of March

Central Mexico (Loading in South Texas)

  • Yields will decline until the season ends in late April
  • Quality is average; soft fruit and bruising have been reported
  • Size is small (approximately 24 to 28 berries per one-pound clamshell)
  • Expect to see supplies tighten as Mexico fills shortages from California

Florida

  • MFC Strawberries are available
  • Supply levels will decline until the season ends in the next three to four weeks
  • Quality is good; white shoulders and bruising are problems due to temperature increases
  • Size is small (approximately 24 to 26 berries per one-pound clamshell)
  • Expect sufficient stocks through March

Sweet Baby Broccoli

Sweet baby broccoli supplies remain extremely scarce; demand exceeds supply. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Sweet Baby Broccoli are extremely limited.

  • The vast majority of supplies are grown in the Salinas Valley year-round
  • Salinas Valley yields continue to be far-below normal due to rain and sustained cooler-than-normal temperatures
  • Suppliers have cut back harvesting days due to wet fields and to allow current plantings to mature
  • Packed-produce quality remains strong despite adverse growing conditions; purple shade is present in many lots, a result of the near freezing nighttime temperatures
  • Stocks will remain extremely limited for the next 7-10 days at minimum as lower-than-average temperatures persist and precipitation moves through the area

Source: Accuweather; Salinas Valley Weather Forecast March 5 – March 18

Tomatoes

Tomato markets are easing due to increased supplies and weak demand. MFC Tomatoes are readily available.

  • Mexican round, Roma, cherry and grape tomatoes have increased and are priced competitively
    • All Roma and round sizes are available, with large sizes being the most abundant
    • Quality is very good
  • Florida’s mature green and Roma winter crop is past its peak and will transition to spring crops during the month of March
    • Florida prices are slightly elevated compared to Mexican markets
    • Quality is excellent due to recent ideal growing conditions
  • It’s an excellent time to promote the tomato category

West Coast Spring Harvesting Transitions

Please click here to view a Markon presentation about West Coast spring harvesting transitions.

  • Although many produce items are available year-round, most are not harvested in the same regions the entire time
  • West Coast lettuce and leafy greens growers make seasonal moves in the fall and spring
  • Other high-use produce items that transition include broccoli, celery, and strawberries
  • Markon inspectors travel with the seasons, monitoring product daily to ensure quality and food safety standards are met

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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