Artichokes

Artichoke supplies are extremely limited; small and medium size packs (18- through 36-count) are tight.

• Recent colder weather, low nighttime temperatures, and a fall heat wave has stunted flower growth and drastically reduced maturation
• Suppliers are primarily packing 12-count sizes, allowing flower size to increase before harvesting
• Expect low volume out of all growing regions through the end of the year
  • Oxnard, California is the primary growing region at this time; production is light
  • The Castroville growing region season will end this week
  • The Coachella growing region will begin limited production by mid-December
  • Mexican supplies will begin in a limited manner next week and increase through December; volume will not be adequate enough to lower markets
• Expect light volume and elevated prices through January as current harvesting strategies pay off and growing regions begin to overlap

Bell Peppers

Prices are active; harvesting transitions are underway on both coasts. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

• California
  • Hollister and Oxnard growers are expected to finish their final harvests this week
  • Volume is steady in the Coachella and Thermal growing regions of Southern California
    • The season is past its peak
    • Expect volume to decrease over the next three to four weeks
  • Quality is good
  • Markets are rising as production transitions wrap up
  • Strong demand for Thanksgiving is expected to further increase prices over the next two weeks

• Mexico/East Coast
  • Supplies will begin shipping out of Western Mexico (crossing into Nogales, Arizona) at the end of November/early December; Hurricane Norma disrupted early plantings, delaying the start of the season by one to two weeks
  • Stocks out of Central Mexico (crossing through Texas) are limited
  • Production is steady in Georgia and Florida; East Coast markets are beginning to inch up due to increased holiday demand

Red Bells

• California
  • Supplies are limited in Hollister and Oxnard growing regions as the season winds down
  • New crop harvests are expected to begin in a limited manner in Coachella and Thermal next week
  • The California domestic season will wrap up by late December
  • Quality is good; markets are climbing as we enter harvesting transitions

• Mexico/Canada
  • Stocks remain limited in Central Mexico (crossing through Texas); quality is fair to good
  • The season in Western Mexico (crossing into Nogales) is expected to begin in late December/early January; growers anticipate low volume to start due to early planting disruptions caused by past heavy rains
  • Canadian production is minimal as the season nears its end

Broccoli

MFC Broccoli Crowns are available in Yuma, Arizona; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted in South Texas.

California – Salinas and Santa Maria

• Brown bead, small size, and yellowing are the chief quality concerns as the final acres of the season are harvested
• Prices are easing as growers are finishing final harvests before moving to more arid desert climates

Arizona/California Desert – Yuma, Imperial, and Coachella

• Large-scale production has begun; new crop quality is strong
• Prices are slightly elevated as compared to the Salinas and Santa Maria markets

Mexico (into South Texas)

• MBA is being packed due to the heavy presence of hollow core, but overall crown quality is good

• Mexican product remains available in South Texas at lower FOB markets; expect a wide price spread between the West Coast and South Texas through mid- to late December
• Steady supplies and relatively stable markets are forecast for the next two to four weeks

California Navel Orange De-Greening (Gas Treatment)

• By law, oranges must be mature when harvested in the United States but may exhibit yellow-green skins
  • Three levels of maturity must be met before harvesting
    • Juice content
    • Brix percentage (sugars)
    • Citric acid levels
• When necessary, ethylene gas is applied to oranges to change the rind color from yellow or green to orange
  • The process of applying ethylene gas is known as de-greening, gassing, or curing
  • Ethylene gas only helps with the outside skin color, it does not change any other characteristics of the orange
• The length of the de-greening process depends on skin color upon harvest
• Currently California Navel oranges are being de-greened 72 to 96 hours

Carrots

Supplies are currently being harvested in Southern California, but will transition back to the San Joaquin Valley in late November 2023. Jumbo and cello-packed carrots will remain limited over the next two months. Value-added packs such as Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Baby Carrots, RSS Carrot Coins, RSS Carrot Matchsticks, and RSS Shredded Carrots will meet demand.

Commodity

• Supplies remain tight due to prior rain damage in other major growing regions
• Shippers are covering current demand with minimal room for additional orders
• Expect elevated markets and tight supplies through December

Value-Added

• Current yields are meeting demand
• Expect steady markets and ample supplies over the next two months

Cauliflower

Cauliflower markets are steady as the West Coast and Arizona desert harvests begin to overlap.

• ESS Cauliflower is available; packer label may be substituted, as needed to fill orders
• End of season quality challenges in California are hastening the move to desert supplies
  • Appearance defects such as discoloration/spotting, ricing, leafy curds, and mold remain prevalent
  • Ordering for short turns is advised for the next one to two weeks, as California finishes the season
• Early reports are positive for both yields and quality out of the Arizona and California desert regions
• Although lower markets are expected this week amid lighter holiday demand and more abundant supplies, prices will rise and volume will fall again in three to four weeks

From the Fields

Arizona/California Desert Region Rain

The Arizona/California desert growing region will receive as much as ¼” to ½” of rain this evening and through Thursday morning. Wet and muddy field conditions following the rain may cause minimal harvesting delays, although no major challenges are anticipated at this time.

Markon inspectors will monitor all desert row crop items closely and will update further as needed.

From the Fields: West Coast Rain Event

A multi-day rain event is forecast to affect most California growing regions this week. Light showers may occur as early as this afternoon in the Salinas Valley, becoming light-to moderate rain on Wednesday, November 15 through Friday, November 17 before tapering off on Saturday, November 18.

Anywhere from one to three inches of rain may be recorded in the Salinas Valley whereas the Santa Maria and Oxnard areas may see two to four inches. The Arizona/California desert region, which is just getting underway, may receive a quarter of an inch of rain towards the end of this week, but forecast confidence is low for those areas at this time.

Growers in Salinas, Santa Maria, and Oxnard are packing orders ahead of time as much as possible in anticipation of wet/muddy field conditions following the rain. Of particular concern are broccoli, cauliflower, and celery supplies that remain in Salinas, as well as strawberries and cilantro from the Santa Maria and Oxnard areas.

Markon inspectors will monitor supplies closely and will update further as conditions merit.

Green Beans

Green bean supplies are extremely limited due to recent cold weather in both Georgia and Mexico; markets are elevated. Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Trimmed Green Beans are limited.

• Supplies on the East Coast are very snug
• The Georgia season ended early due to a recent cold front/frost, damaging plants
• Florida supplies are very limited due to prolonged rains during the plant growth cycle; quality is good but yields are low
  • Growers expect a new “bumper crop” to start November 20
• Mexico volume is low due to recent cold temperatures in the main growing regions of San Miguel, Los Mochis, and the Baja Peninsula
• Expect higher prices over the next 10 days; the market will ease as new production begins

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuce Harvesting Transition

The green leaf, iceberg, and romaine harvesting transition to the Arizona/California desert is nearly completed.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are being packed regularly; MBA will be substituted as needed due to low weights
• Limited supplies are being shipped from the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys; Markon branded packs are being harvested exclusively in the desert, as of today
• Quality is very good; texture is ideal but head weights are low in some lots
• Iceberg markets are easing as supplies ramp up in the desert and Thanksgiving holiday demand subsides
• Green leaf and romaine prices are expected to remain steady into December

Limes

Lime supplies are increasing, Autumn demand is weak, easing prices. MFC and ESS Limes are available

• Production is steady in Veracruz, Mexico despite recent cold front/rain this week
• Size is dominated by medium fruit (175- to 230-count supplies)
• Quality is improving as new crop stocks hit the market; scarring has been the main concern due to recent strong winds
• Recent cold fronts are affecting flower blooms which will impact yields and cause higher markets in January through March 2024
• Expect lower prices over the next two weeks

Onions

Onion markets continue to rise; demand for the Thanksgiving holiday remains strong.

• MFC Onions are being shipped out of storage from Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Washington

• Onions are exhibiting solid, globe-like shape and firm texture
  • Yellow onions have golden, cured skins
  • Red onion skins are setting nicely with a few paper layers
• Both varieties are dominated by jumbo sizes; colossal and super colossal stocks are sufficient

Strawberries

Rain is expected in the Santa Maria and Oxnard, California growing regions starting Friday, November 17. This rain event will reduce supply levels and drive up prices. The Mexican season (into South Texas) is just starting; this region will help fill the void in California stocks, but cannot meet full demand.

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Forecasts call for rain Friday, November 17 through Saturday, November 18
• Supplies are currently limited and with rainfall in the forecast, supplies will become extremely tight
• Expect an extreme demand-exceeds-supply market for the next two weeks
• Quality is currently average at best; rain will decrease quality further
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns

Oxnard

• MFC Strawberries are available
• The forecast calls for rain Friday, November 17 through Saturday, November 18
• Volume is currently low and with rainfall forecast for next week, supplies will become extremely limited
• Expect an extreme demand-exceeds-supply market for the next two weeks
• Quality is currently good; rain will decrease overall quality
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns

Mexico (into South Texas)

• Volume is low; the season is just getting started
• Rainfall earlier in the week has greatly reduced yields for the remainder of the week
• Quality is currently good; white shoulders have been reported
• Expect increasing volume crossing into San Juan, Texas week over week
• Anticipate high prices as South Texas helps fill the void from West Coast shortages

Florida

• Production will begin in a limited manner after Thanksgiving
• Orders will begin shipping the week of December 4

Stringless Sugar Snap Peas

Prices remain elevated. Supplies are limited due to industrywide quality challenges, reducing harvestable yields.

California – Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys

• Late quality problems have arisen; cooler nighttime temperatures, shorter days, wind, and precipitation have negatively affected total production
• External pitting, russeting, scarring, and water damage are prevalent and may lead to shorter shelf-life; heavy culling has reduced yields at the field level
• Expect limited supplies to persist as the season winds down over the next two to three weeks

Imports – Northern Mexico and Peru

• Peruvian supplies are tight but are helping to supplement the market; quality is slightly better
• Some product grown in Northern Mexico is beginning to enter the market; fields are still delayed one to two weeks
• Markets will remain elevated until production ramps up in mid- to late November
• Imported ‘semi-stringless’ varieties are slightly more available at comparable pricing (LA loading)

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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