Baby Broccoli

Baby broccoli supplies are gradually improving, though more rain is forecasted for next week.

Markon First Crop (MFC) and Ready Set Serve (RSS) Broccolini^® Baby Broccoli remains limited; packer label is being substituted as needed.

• Yields have slightly increased this week as supplies recover from recent weather events
• Quality is fair; yellowing, premature flowering, and excessive pith are still being reported
• Rain is forecast for the second half of next week across western growing regions, which may impact improving supply
• Stronger demand over the next two weeks is expected to keep markets elevated and overall supplies limited

Bell Peppers

Red bell pepper supplies are snug as harvesting transitions are underway in California. Green bell pepper crops are experiencing cold weather in the Southeast, reducing yields. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Red Bells

• California production is transitioning from coastal regions to the Imperial Desert this week
  • Overall supplies are tight
  • An atmospheric river is expected to bring over two inches of rain starting on Friday; production crews will pack ahead of storms this week
  • Early season desert crops will get a slow start as this week’s weather will hinder the ripening process
• Growers in Central Mexico are shipping low volume into South Texas
• The Canadian greenhouse season is finishing up, increasing demand for California field-grown red bell peppers
• Expect prices to increase over the next two weeks

Green Bells

• California’s Coachella supplies are adequate; however, this week’s weather will slow yields
  • Overall quality is good with all sizes available
  • The San Joaquin Valley and Arroyo Grande seasons have ended
• Mexico is crossing limited quantities into South Texas and Nogales, Arizona this week; early season volume is low out of Western Mexico
• Georgia experienced frost this week, ending the season
• Florida harvests have begun; however, cooler weather will slow yields this week
• Expect slightly higher prices due to inclement autumn weather over the next week

Brussels Sprouts

Prices are climbing as rain, quality issues, and rising demand for the Thanksgiving holiday reduce yields. MFC and RSS Brussels Sprouts remain limited; packer label is being substituted where necessary.

• California growing regions are forecast to receive significant rainfall over the weekend, minimizing supplies
• Quality is fair; discoloration, seeder, and small sizing are prevalent and will contribute to reduced yields and shortened shelf-life
• Expect strong demand over the next ten days as the Thanksgiving holiday pull peaks
• The Mexican season will begin in mid-December, supplementing dwindling Salinas supplies
• Expect elevated pricing and tighter supply levels through early December, with some relief after Thanksgiving as demand drops off

California Citrus

California’s San Joaquin Valley and Southern California citrus growing districts are forecast to receive a series of heavy rain events starting Thursday, November 13 through Monday, November 17. Expect harvesting delays, tight supplies, and higher markets next week.

• MFC and ESS Lemons and Oranges are available.
• Growers cannot harvest fruit when orchards are wet
  • If picked when wet, the rind will break down, and discoloration will develop
  • Mud and standing water may limit crews’ ability to get equipment into groves
  • Markon has requested that suppliers pack ahead of this rain event
• Current quality is excellent; supplies are adequate

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

The fall domestic melon season is winding down. MFC Cantaloupe Melons will ship through November 18 and MFC Honeydew Melons through November 22. The transition to offshore production will begin over the next few weeks.

Cantaloupe

Arizona-California Desert Region

• Harvests will wrap up over the next ten days
• Size is dominated by nine-count fruit, followed by jumbo nine-counts
• For the most part, quality is good, although some dirt may be visible on rinds
• Expect prices to remain elevated, as desert acreage is down this year and offshore production is just getting started
• Supplies will remain limited, and most suppliers will only cover contract volume; open-market opportunities will be minimal

Central America

• The first shipments of offshore cantaloupes will arrive in Southern Florida the week of November 10
• Offshore shipments into Northeastern and West Coast ports will begin arriving the week of November 17
• Expect prices to climb over the next two to three weeks during the transition period

Honeydew

Arizona-California Desert Region

• Harvests will continue through November 22, extending slightly longer than cantaloupes
• Size is dominated by five-count fruit, followed by jumbo five-counts
• Quality is mostly good, with some scarring being reported
• Expect prices to remain elevated, as desert acreage is down this year and offshore production is trailing slightly behind cantaloupes

Sonora, Mexico

• Mexican supplies are available for loading in Nogales, Arizona; prices are slightly lower compared to domestic fruit
• Packer label Mexican honeydew will be used to supplement orders until offshore production ramps up

Central America

• The first shipments of offshore honeydews will arrive in Southern Florida the week of November 24
• Offshore shipments into Northeastern and West Coast ports will begin arriving the week of December 1
• Expect prices to climb over the next two to three weeks during the transition period

Celery

Celery markets are active as Thanksgiving demand ramps up and the transition from Salinas to Oxnard, California, takes place.

• MFC Celery is available
• Overall quality is very good; pith is an occasional issue
• Supplies are currently shipping out of Salinas, Santa Maria, and Oxnard, California
  • This week’s rain will slow production in all California regions
  • The Salinas season will conclude in late November
• Growers will begin production in Belle Glade, Florida; Coachella, California; and Yuma, Arizona in December
• Expect markets to continue rising through the rest of November

Green Cabbage

Prices are steady; supplies are average as growing regions are in transition.

California

• The Salinas and Santa Maria seasons are winding down quickly; rains across California will hamper harvests
• The Arizona/California desert regions are harvesting, but supplies are not yet plentiful, due to cooler weather slowing maturity
• Quality out of Salinas and Santa Maria remains poor to fair; insect damage, small size, and discoloration are prevalent
• Supplies are sufficient to cover current demand

East Coast/Southeast

• Regional deals on the East Coast have mostly ended, apart from Southeastern growers
• Recent freezing temperatures across the Southeast have reduced harvestable yields
• Winter production is beginning in Florida and will increase through December

Texas/Mexico

• The South Texas domestic cabbage season has started out of the San Antonio-Winter Garden region
• Overall quality is good; size and density is better than California’s crop
• Imported supplies from Central Mexico continue to cross into South Texas with lower pricing
• Expect steady supplies in South Texas through the early part of December

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Markets remain extremely elevated as the Salinas and Santa Maria seasons come to a close and Arizona/California desert production slowly ramps up. MFC Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuces are sporadic; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed due to low weights

Salinas and Santa Maria, California

• Low weights, disease pressure, and mildew have reduced yields significantly
• Two to three inches of rain are forecast through this weekend in Salinas and Santa Maria, effectively ending these seasons

Huron, California

• Production is ramping down quickly; supplies will be depleted by the end of next week
• Quality and weights are good; mildew pressure is an occasional issue

Oxnard, California

• Production is supplementing any shortages
• Quality is good, but weights are low
• Weather forecast calls for up to three inches of rain through this weekend

Arizona/California Desert Region

• Production continues to ramp up, but is being hindered by the slow maturity of all crops

• • Most growers have started harvesting in a limited way
  • Quality is above average
  • Weights are low; most growers are entering fields early due to strong demand
  • Over an inch of rain is expected on Saturday; Markon is working with growers to pack ahead to ensure order coverage

LIVE FROM THE FIELDS: SIGNIFICANT RAIN IN ARIZONA & CALIFORNIA GROWING REGIONS

Please click here to view a Markon Live From the Fields video about the first atmospheric river event that will be impacting transitional growing regions in Arizona and California over the next several days.

• The Salinas, Santa Maria, and Oxnard growing regions started receiving showers and thunderstorms last night that will persist into Saturday, November 15
• Roughly one to two inches of rainfall is expected throughout the above-mentioned regions, as well as in Huron, California
• California’s Coachella and Imperial Valley as well as Yuma, Arizona are expecting rain to begin Saturday morning with up to an inch and a half of rain possible; another low-pressure system is forecast to bring more rain to these regions on Monday, November 17
• Significant production and loading delays can be expected over the next several days along with rain-related quality/shelf-life challenges
• Grower/shippers will take steps to keep boxes and product as clean and dry as possible and are working to fill all orders
• Markon inspectors will update further as the impact of these storms becomes more clear

Strawberries

The California weather forecast changed overnight, bringing more rain and wind into the Santa Maria/Oxnard growing regions.  Growers have packed ahead of the rain to cover this week’s orders. California will pack very little fruit next week, if any at all.

Santa Maria/Oxnard

• Three to four inches of rain is expected through Monday
• Very few, if any, strawberries will be harvested next week
• Demand will far exceed supply for the next two weeks
• Quality ranges from fair to fairly good; light decay, soft skin, and bruising are issues
• Size ranges from small-medium to medium
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• Supplies will remain limited with elevated prices through November

Mexico/South Texas

• Current yields will not meet demand
• Early season supplies are limited
• Quality problems are reducing yields
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• Supplies will increase week over week through November
• Expect low volume and elevated prices through November

Tomatoes

Recent frost in the Southeast is pushing harvests further south into Florida. Mexico is expecting overall moderate production in November. MFC Tomatoes are available.

Rounds

• Recent freezes in Georgia ended the season
• The South Carolina season will finish up next week
• Northern Florida crops experienced some frost; farmers are evaluating plants this week
• Central Florida production is underway; however, cool weather has slowed yields
• Growers are expected to start production in Immokalee, Florida in the next two weeks
• Mexico’s Baja crop has moderate supplies; 4×5 and 5×5 sizes are most dominant
• Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas) is shipping steady volume
• Expect slightly higher prices due to East Coast delays caused by poor weather

Romas

• Quality is great in Central Florida; yields are slightly lower due to cooler temperatures earlier this week
• Baja growers are harvesting new acreage; quality is good
• Supplies are tightening in Immokalee, Florida, as the region enters lighter seasonal production; quality is average
• The season in Western Mexico is expected to start in mid-December with a promising outlook, as it has avoided major storms this fall
• Expect higher prices until East Coast stocks increase over the next two weeks

Grape & Cherry Varieties

• Central Florida has started production
  • Quality is great
  • Yields are slightly lower due to cooler temperatures earlier this week
• The Baja and Central Mexico regions are producing moderate volume
• Expect slightly lower markets next week

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

©2025 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.