Bell Peppers

Red bell pepper prices are increasing this week due to harvesting transition delays; weather is a factor. Quality issues out of Mexico are a concern.

Red Bells

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Red Bell Peppers are limited; packer label is being substituted
• Mexican volume is down; hot weather has advanced late-stage spring crops
• • Choice grade is the most prevalent
  • Quality is below average; problems include scarring, over-ripeness, green cast, and occasional decay
  • Shelf-life is shorter than normal
• The California season is slowly starting this week
  • Higher volume is expected the week of May 15
  • Jumbo and extra-large sizes are abundant
• Canadian greenhouses are packing excellent quality stocks this week
• Expect markets to climb

Green Bells

• MFC and ESS Green Bell Peppers are available
• Growers in mainland Mexico are struggling with quality as the spring season winds down; shelf-life is below normal

• California’s Imperial Valley has adequate supplies
  • Production is expected to start in Fresno by early June
  • New crop quality is excellent
  • Large sizes dominate packs

• East Coast production is light
  • Plant City, Florida is the main growing region
  • Production will begin in Georgia early next week
• Expect steady markets this week

Cabbage

West Coast cabbage markets are elevated; supplies are tight. East Coast supplies are ample.

• Arizona/California desert supplies will be depleted this week
• The Salinas Valley growing season is off to a slow start
  • Cool temperatures have reduced head size and weight
  • Lower yields per acre have significantly reduced availability for processors
• As a result, West Coast cabbage supplies have significantly tightened this week
• The Texas season has ended; Mexican supplies (crossing into South Texas) will begin in late May/early June
• The Florida season is finished; however, Georgia is in full swing with ample supply
  • North Carolina harvests will begin next week
  • Commodity cabbage off the East Coast is in good supply with steady to lower pricing expected over the next few weeks
• Expect limited supplies out West with elevated prices through the month of May

California Strawberries

Supplies are increasing; demand remains strong. Expect steady markets for the next seven to ten days.

Salinas/Watsonville

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Volume will increase next week as favorable growing conditions are forecast

• Fruit size is large (14-18 per 1-pound clamshell)

• Quality is great: firm fruit with 90%-95% color

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Warm weather will increase stocks next week
• Fruit size is medium (18-20 per 1-pound clamshell)
• Quality is good: some green shoulders have been reported

Oxnard

• Supplies are extremely limited; most growers are finished for the season
• Remaining quality is fair at best

Green Beans

Prices are up. Previous cold weather is delaying the harvesting transition and resulting in low plant yields. Ready-Set-Serve Trimmed Green Beans are available.

• Florida production is light
  • The Central and Eastern regions are finishing up
  • Northern Florida has low acreage
  • Quality is average with no major issues reported
  • The Georgia season is behind schedule due to previous cold weather and replanting; expect production to start May 15
• Mexican stocks are limited as some growers on the mainland have finished the season
• The California season will start in mid-May; low volume is forecast at first due to cold weather
• Expect elevated markets over the next two weeks

Onions

The Northwest storage onion season will end this week. New crop onions are readily available out of California’s Imperial Valley. Texas-grown supplies are sufficient.

Northwest

• Red and white onion stocks have been depleted; limited supplies of yellow onions are available, but will be depleted this week
• Internal defects such as translucency, as well as dry and watery scale, will be present

California

• MFC Onions will be shipped out of the Imperial Valley through the first week of June
• Once the Imperial Valley season wraps up, onions will transition up to the San Joaquin Valley

Texas

• Texas-grown MFC Onions will be available through the end of this week, with limited supply next week
• Next week will be the final week of the Texas onion season

New Mexico

• The season for MFC Onions is on track to open in early June
• New Mexico onions will be shipped into late August

Pears

MFC Washington D’Anjou Pears will be available through late July.

Washington

• Quality is excellent in remaining storage supplies
• Stocks are dominated by 90- and 100-count sizes
• 110-count and smaller pears are limited

California

• The new crop California Bartlett season will begin in early July
• Growers pack and sell by the count as opposed to the volume-fill method used in Washington
  • California suppliers ship 40-pound packs; Washington growers use 44-pound cartons
  • Due to this pack difference, California ships approximately 6 to 10 fewer pieces of fruit per unit compared to Washington
  • The attached photos show Washington and California pear packs

2022-2023 Washington New Crop

• The Bartlett season is forecast to begin in mid-August
• D’Anjou production will start in early September

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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