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UPDATE SUMMARY: WEEK OF MAY 22, 2023

May 25, 2023

Bell Peppers

Green bell pepper markets are steady due to a smooth growing region transition on both coasts. Red bells will start in the California desert during the second week of June. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

  • The California desert has strong supply this week; quality is excellent with light green color
  • The main Mexican season is ending; quality is average at best on any remaining crops
  • Central Florida will run until the end of May with good quality
  • Georgia has started and will ramp up over the next couple of weeks
  • Expect slightly lower prices heading into Memorial Day weekend

Red Bells

  • Mexico production is slowing down as most suppliers work older fields; quality is average and smaller sizes are most common
  • The California desert season will start in a limited manner at the beginning of June
  • Canadian greenhouses are producing excellent quality larger fruit
  • Expect prices to increase over the next two weeks

Berries

Raspberries supplies are tight; markets continue to be elevated but growers are expecting relief in late June.

Raspberries

  • Volume continues to downtrend in Central Mexico
  • Stocks are slowly increasing in Baja, Mexico and Oxnard, California; expect yields in both regions to reach peak season in late June
  • 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
  • The Florida and Georgia seasons have ended for the year
  • Prices will remain steady

Blackberries

  • Yields continue to decline in Central Mexico as the season will end next week
  • Oxnard, California is increasing production and is expected to reach peak season by mid-June
  • Watsonville, California yields continue to increase week over week
  • North Carolina is expected to begin harvesting next week with minimal volume but will ramp up quickly
  • Supplies will slowly increase through the month of June

Brussels Sprouts

The market remains elevated. Mexico is the primary growing region this time of year; supplies are limited.

  • MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are limited; packer label is being substituted as needed
  • Demand is strong
  • 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-sized sprouts are scarce
  • Expect elevated markets and tight supplies through June until new crop stocks ramp up in California growing regions

California Stone Fruit

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

Peaches/Nectarines

  • The season will run from June to mid-September
  • Peaches are currently available; nectarines will be available May 31
  • Good quality is forecast: sugar levels typically range from 10 to 11 Brix
  • The Georgia peach season is underway with extremely minimal volume

Plums

  • The California season will run from mid-June to mid-October
  • Fruit will begin shipping the week of June 5
  • Expect good quality

Apricots

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

California Strawberries

Strawberry supplies are ample; demand is decreasing. Expect a supply-exceeds-demand market for the month of June.

Santa Maria

  • MFC Strawberries are available
  • Warm weather will increase stocks next week
  • Fruit size is medium (18 to 20 berries per one-pound clamshell)
  • Quality is great; some green shoulders have been reported

Salinas/Watsonville

  • MFC Strawberries will enter the market on May 29
  • Volume will increase weekly as favorable growing conditions are forecast
  • Fruit size is large (10 to 18 berries per one-pound clamshell)
  • Quality is great; fruit is firm with 90-95% color

Oxnard

  • Supplies are extremely limited; most suppliers are expected to wrap up the season in the next two weeks
  • Remaining quality is fair

Celery

Celery markets are high; supplies are tight out of the primary growing region of Oxnard, California.

  • Seeder and other quality issues are present in some lots, reducing yields at the field level
  • Oxnard production is forecast to end in early to mid-June
  • 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
  • Prices are expected to remain active until Salinas production is underway

From the Fields: Value-Added Cabbage

Current raw product cabbage supplies are exhibiting above-normal levels of long core/seeder caused by the recent rains, followed by a heat spike in California’s Salinas Valley. The core material is extremely difficult to eliminate completely.

Effective immediately, Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Shredded Cabbage packs will be substituted into packer brand. Quality is expected to improve after the next 7-10 days. Markon inspectors will be monitoring both the raw product and finished packs and will switch back to RSS brand as soon as possible.

Grapes

Red and green grape packs will be limited for the next seven days as the offshore storage season ends. The Mexican season has begun; volume is minimal.

Offshore

  • MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes will be available until early June
  • The Chilean/Peruvian green and red grape storage season is ending
    • Greens have already transitioned to Mexico as of May 23
    • Reds will move to Mexico the week of May 29
  • Overall supplies are extremely tight as stocks diminish
  • Expect limited supplies and rising markets through this transition

Mexico

  • MFC and ESS Grapes will be available in mid-June
  • Mexican green grapes began shipping on May 23
  • Mexican red grapes are expected to enter the market May 29
  • Portioned grapes from Mexico are expected to become available June 5
  • Expect elevated pricing as the season begins followed by gradually decreasing markets

Melons

The Arizona/California desert domestic melon season has begun; stocks are limited but will increase in the coming weeks.

Cantaloupe

  • A limited supply of MFC California/Arizona Cantaloupe is available; packer label is being substituted as needed
  • The domestic Arizona/California desert season continues to ramp up; supplies are limited due to weather related planting delays
  • Mexican supplies are expected to finish in the next 10 days
  • Sizing is dominated by smaller sizes (12- and 15-count fruit)
  • Markets will remain elevated until supplies increase in June

Honeydew

  • The domestic Arizona/California desert season will begin in a limited manner this week; Mexican honeydew will continue shipping
  • Domestic supplies are limited due to delayed plantings and cool temperatures; demand is currently exceeding supplies
  • Sizing is dominated by 5- and 6-count melons
  • A limited supply of MFC Honeydew is expected to begin shipping Friday, June 2
  • Expect elevated prices to persist through mid-June

Onion and Potato Memorial Day (Weekend) Loading Hours

Onion and potato suppliers will be operating on limited hours this coming weekend and Memorial Day.

Onions

  • Onion sheds in Southern California and Washington will be operating on normal, limited loading hours on Saturday, May 27
  • Southern California onion sheds will operate on limited hours on Monday, May 29; a few sheds will be closed
  • Washington onion sheds will be closed Monday, May 29

Potatoes

  • All Idaho and Washington potato sheds will be closed Monday, May 29
  • Please note that Tuesday, May 30 will be a very slow loading day for potato shippers as suppliers will not produce over the weekend or holiday

Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Fruit Salad Grape Shortage

Markon’s RSS Fresh Fruit supplier is gapping on red grapes the next three weeks due to the offshore storage season ending prior to the Mexican crop starting. Please refer to the attached Markon update explaining the limited supplies.

  • The following items will not contain red grapes, temporarily in RSS brand, and will be replaced with equal parts of honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, and oranges:
Markon Item# Product Desc Pack Size
91403 FRUIT SALAD DELUXE 8 LB
91404 FRUIT SALAD DELUXE 2/8 LB
91405 FRUIT SALAD DELUXE 24 LB CRTN
92034 CITRUS SALAD RIO 8 LB
98018 FRUIT SALAD DELUXE NO PRES 2/8 LB
98019 FRUIT SALAD DELUXE NO PRES 8 LB
98020 FRUIT SALAD NO PRES 14 LB
98021 FRUIT SALAD NO PRES 14 LB CRTN
98039 CITRUS SALAD RIO NO PRES 8 LB
98041 CITRUS SALAD RIO NO PRES 14 LB CRTN
98044 CITRUS SALAD RIO NO PRES 2/8 LB

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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