Broccoli

Broccoli supplies are increasing; prices continue to ease.

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Broccoli is available in Salinas and Mexico (into South Texas)
• Supplies are ramping up in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys
  • Mild weather has helped spur growth
  • Santa Maria product is boasting relatively lower FOB prices due to weaker demand and better truck loading capacities
• Mexican stocks are available in South Texas but quality issues are of concern; California product is exhibiting fewer problems
• Expect prices to continue to easing through mid-May, before leveling out

Brussels Sprouts

The market is elevated. Mexico is the primary growing region this time of year; supplies have decreased significantly.

• MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are extremely limited; packer label is being substituted as needed
• Late-season quality issues, including yellowing/off color, bolting, and higher insect pressure, have significantly reduced yields in Mexico
• Size profile is skewed to smaller sprouts as growers must harvest immature fields to meet current demand
• Product will continue to cross from Mexico until California production begins
  • The Oxnard start date has been delayed from early May to late May
  • Salinas Valley production is expected to begin early to mid-July
• Expect firm markets and tight supplies for the next 14-21 days as demand remains strong and production is in transition

Butter Lettuce

Butter lettuce supplies are increasing in the Salinas Valley following a period of limited availability at the start of the season.

• MFC Premium Butter Lettuce is available; packer label is being substituted, as needed, to cover orders
• Quality is strong; size and weight of harvestable product have increased
• Supplies remain snug but will continue to increase in the coming weeks
• Expect markets to continue to inch down through May

Cauliflower

Markets are lower as supplies increase in the primary growing regions of Salinas and Santa Maria, California.

• Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is available
• Prices have fallen from record highs in late April as supplies have quickly ramped up in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys
• Recent favorable weather has helped increase yields quickly despite concerns of cold weather and flooding in the winter months
• Good color and consistent size has been noted in recent packs from both areas

• Expect prices to continue trending lower through the month of May, as mild weather promotes growth and strong quality

Celery

• Oxnard and Santa Maria, California are the primary growing regions; seeder is present is some lots, reducing yields
• Salinas production will start two weeks later than normal
  • Excessive rains disrupted plantings and cold temperatures slowed growth
  • Harvests are forecast to begin in mid-June
• The Michigan season will start in early to mid-July
• Markets are expected to remain active until Salinas production is underway

Cilantro

• Markets have fallen sharply as supplies have increased in the Southern and Central Coast growing regions of California
• Mild tip burn and increased dirt in final packs are being reported due to strong winds
• The overall quality outlook is positive; excellent growing conditions are forecast
• Expect markets to fall a bit more before the end of this week and settle in the mid-teens through May

Cucumbers

Cucumber markets are weak with multiple regions in production; demand is light. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Cucumbers are available.

• East Coast growers are transitioning from Florida to Georgia this week
  • Plant City’s remaining crops are of good quality
  • Expect very good quality in Georgia
• Mexican supplies are plentiful
  • Multiple regions are in production, including Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja
  • The Baja Peninsula has a few growers running; expect full summer volume by mid-June

• Expect low, promotable prices this week

From the Fields: Salinas Valley Lettuce Update

Please click here to view a Markon Live from the Fields video regarding the recent growing transition as well as the current supply and quality outlooks for Salinas Valley lettuce items.

• The harvesting transition from the Arizona/California desert region to California’s Salinas Valley has been extremely challenging
• Multiple atmospheric rivers and two major flooding events in January and March caused widespread crop and farm infrastructure damage
• Over the past two to three weeks, growers have been experiencing the results of disrupted planting schedules and cold temperatures that hindered growth
• Supplies have been tight and plant maturity has not been ideal, causing low case weights
• A recent light rain event followed by warmer temperatures this week and next week will promote growth and improve the supply outlook
• Markon inspectors expect to see more Markon First Crop availability over the next few weeks

From the Fields: Salinas Valley Weather Update

California’s Salinas Valley received anywhere from ¼” – ¾” of rain earlier this week. A slight chance for another couple hundredths of an inch returns Saturday, May 6, but will not have any impact on the production of Salinas row crops.

Although the rainfall totals were not excessive, shelf-life performance of various value-added items may be impacted. Chopped and shredded lettuce packs could develop premature pinking within the next 7-10 days and baby leaf items such as spinach and arugula could see some yellowing due to oversaturation.

Markon inspectors will be monitoring weather and quality closely and will update further as needed.

Grapes

The Chilean/Peruvian offshore season is quickly winding down. Green and red storage supplies will ship through next week while portioned grapes will remain available into early June. The Mexican season has been delayed until late May. Supplies will be extremely limited the week of May 22 as the offshore storage season will be ending and Mexican volume will not meet demand.

Offshore

• The Chilean/Peruvian green and red grape storage season will end late next week
• Overall supplies are becoming increasingly tight as stocks diminish
• MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes will be available until early June
• Expect limited supplies and rising markets through this transition

Mexico

• ESS Grapes will be available in mid-June

• Mexican green and red grapes are expected to begin shipping in late May
• Expect elevated pricing to begin the season followed by gradually decreasing markets

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuce

Green leaf, iceberg, and romaine markets are declining as supplies continue to increase.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are sporadic due to low weights, inconsistent density, and mildew pressure; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed
• Supply availability will continue to vary from week to week as growers navigate delayed and/or missed plantings due to excessive rains this past winter
• Overall demand is weaker, as demand for Mother’s Day has passed
• Expect industry supplies to continue to trend higher, driving markets lower

Limes

Lime markets continue to ease as available supplies increase in Veracruz, Mexico. MFC and ESS Limes are available.

• Current new crop supplies are dominated by 200- to 230-count sizes
• Larger 110- and 150-count stocks remain tight; supplies are slowly increasing
• Quality is good; oil spotting, blanching, and scarring are occasional issues
• Expect markets to continue to stair-step down over the next two weeks

Onions

The season for Texas-grown MFC Onions will end early next week. Poor weather has affected remaining onion acreage.      

Texas

• Steady rain throughout the season, coupled with high heat, have reduced remaining onion yields
• MFC Onion growers will have supply on hand for orders loading through early next week, while assessing whether or not suitable onions will be available to ship the latter part of next week

California

• With Texas growers calling an end to their season, demand has shifted to California’s Imperial Valley
• Expect prices to increase
• Yields are dominated by small sizes as the season starts
  • Colossal and super colossal onions are tight
  • Size will increase as the season progresses

Washington

• Washington-grown MFC Onions are expected to run through late May  
• Sufficient supplies of red and yellow onions are available
  • Remaining stocks are small in size, favoring mediums and jumbos
  • Yellow colossal onions are limited
  • Super colossal stocks have been depleted
• Prices remain steady despite low volume

New Mexico

• Limited MFC Onion harvesting will start the week of May 22
• Most growers will begin production the weeks of May 29 and June 5

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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