Avocados

Small avocados (60- to 84-count fruit) are limited; demand has shifted to these sizes as harvesting has been cut back in Mexico. Expect tight stocks and elevated markets through the summer.

Mexico

• Small sizes (60- to 84-count fruit) are limited
• Volume is anticipated to be 10 million pounds short of weekly projections
• Expect elevated markets and tight supplies through the summer

California

• Yields are down from the season’s peak two weeks ago
• Size curve favors smaller sizes (60- to 84-count fruit) which is welcome as Mexico and Peru are shipping predominately large fruit (32- to 48-count avocados)
• Quality is good
• Expect elevated markets and tight supplies through the summer

Peru

• Fruit has begun to arrive into the U.S. this week
• Expect volume to ramp up over the next few weeks
• Projections for this season are up 25% over last year’s numbers

California Oranges

California orange growers are transitioning from the Navel to the Valencia variety. Supplies are dominated by large sizes (56- to 88-count packs). Prices are firm.

Navels

• California’s Navel season will wrap up over the next two weeks
• Remaining Navel stocks are dominated by 88-count and larger sizes
• Sugar levels range from 10 to 12 Brix

• Navels have a deeper orange color

Valencias

• California’s Valencia harvest is underway and will run into October
• Expect stocks to be dominated by larger fruit (72- and 88-count sizes)
• Sugar levels range from 10.5 to 12 Brix
• Valencias vary from light to full color and will require greening in the summer months

Chipping Potatoes

The storage season for chipping potatoes is winding down. Growers in the Northwest have roughly two to three weeks of stocks on hand. Spring/summer varieties aren’t expected to ship until the first or second week of June, depending on grower.

• Due to the record heatwave this past summer in the Northwest, this year’s storage crop did not produce enough stocks to ship through the transition to new crop spring/summer potatoes
• To extend storage supplies over the next few weeks, shippers who still have supply on hand will be allocating or filling orders based off on six-week averages
• Expect sporadic quality issues in remaining storage potatoes: pressure and shoulder bruising, along with mixed sizing
• Once ready for production, new crop potatoes will be sourced from several growing regions such as Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas

Seedless Lemons

Seedless lemons are available; the season will run through mid-June.

• Harvesting will end in mid-June; new crop production will start in early November
• There will be a gap between seasons
• Size structure is comparable to conventional lemons

Onions 

Limited supplies of new crop Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions from New Mexico will enter the market next week. The Texas-grown MFC Onion season ends this week. MFC California Onions remain sufficient. 

• California onions will be shipped out of the Imperial Valley through Saturday, June 4, then will transition up to the San Joaquin Valley Monday, June 6
• Limited quantities of MFC Red and Yellow Onions will be available in New Mexico on Monday, May 23; supplies will ramp up the week of May 30
• Texas-grown MFC Onions will ship through this Saturday, May 21

Outlook

• Expect markets to remain steady over the next three to four weeks, then ease once California’s San Joaquin Valley and New Mexico seasons ramp up
• New crop, fresh-run onions will have dry, thin skins and light colored exteriors
• Summer temperatures can range from 80°F to over 100°F
• Growers typically harvest onions during evening or early morning hours
• Finished product is packed and shipped from shaded facilities, with high powered fans generating airflow and ventilation to insure onions are dried and cured properly
• Transit and storage temperatures should be in the 60°F to 70°F range with sufficient airflow, to ensure best quality

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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