Avocado Supplies

Large-size avocados are becoming limited as Mexico’s current crop is dominated by small-size fruit.

Mexico

• Large sizes (32- to 48-count supplies) are limited
• Small sizes (60- to 70-count stocks) are plentiful
• Expect an even distribution of sizes in early December
• Prices for large sizes will remain elevated over the next three weeks

Colombia

• Columbian imports will ship into the East Coast through May; these supplies only account for 5% of U.S. demand
• The crop is currently dominated by small sizes (60- to 84-count fruit)
• Quality is comparable to that in Mexico; texture is creamy and oil content is high

Brussels Sprouts

Markets are climbing; holiday demand is strong. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are available.

• Prices are rising out of Salinas, Oxnard, and Santa Maria, California
  • Thanksgiving demand is strong
  • Quality is fairly good
    • Cold weather and rain are forecast for the weekend
    • Potential quality concerns include discolored leaves, dark spotting, and shorter shelf-life
  • The Salinas season will continue through December
• The Mexican season will begin in mid-December to help supplement Salinas supplies
  • Production is off to a good start
  • Weather is favorable
• Expect elevated prices through early December, with some relief the week of Thanksgiving as demand lulls

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

The Arizona/California desert season is winding down ahead of the transition to offshore Central American fruit. The domestic MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew seasons will end the week of November 25. Packer label melons will ship for the import season.

Cantaloupe

• Arizona/California
  • The desert season is expected to end by the week of November 25
  • Remaining supplies are dominated by 9-count fruit; smaller 12- and 15-count supplies are extremely limited
  • Quality ranges from fair to good; lower sugar content and rind greening are common traits of fall cantaloupes

• Central American/Mexican
  • Markon will avoid shipping Mexican cantaloupes
  • The first shipments of offshore cantaloupes will arrive in Southern Florida the week of November 18
  • Offshore shipments into Northeastern and West Coast ports will begin arriving the first week of December
• Expect prices to climb over the next two to three weeks during the transition period

Honeydew

• Arizona/California
  • The desert season will end the week of November 25
  • Remaining supplies are dominated by five-count fruit; smaller eight- and nine-count stocks are limited
  • Quality is good; occasional scarring is being reported
• Mexican supplies are available for loading in Nogales, Arizona; prices are slightly lower compared to domestic fruit
• Central American

• The first shipments of offshore honeydews will arrive in Southern Florida the week of November 18
• Offshore shipments into Northeastern and West Coast ports will begin arriving the first week of December

• Expect prices to rise over the next two to three weeks as transitions occur

Cauliflower

Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is available; packer label is being substituted as necessary.

• The Salinas and Santa Maria, California seasons are ending
  • Strong Thanksgiving demand and limited supplies are driving the market upwards
  • Quality defects include discoloration, dark spotting, and small heads
  • Rain is forecast through the weekend, which may further limit yields in Salinas depending on the severity of rainfall
• The Yuma, Arizona growing region is ramping up slowly
  • Production is off to a slow start; cold weather is stunting growth
  • ESS Cauliflower will begin harvesting on November 29
  • Heads are an off-white cream color, but overall quality remains good
• Expect elevated pricing until December as Yuma fields ramp up

Citrus

The California Navel orange season is in full swing. Domestic lemons are plentiful.

Lemons

• MFC and ESS Lemons are available  
• Supplies are dominated by small sizes (140- through 165-count fruit); markets for 95- through 115-count supplies remain elevated
• Quality is excellent
• Expect steady markets and ample supplies through December

Oranges

• MFC and ESS Navel Oranges are available
• Growers are currently shipping out of Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas
• Supplies are dominated by small sizes (113- through 138-count fruit); this market has reached the bottom
• Large sizes (56- through 88-count stocks) are tight; prices remain elevated, but will inch down as the season progresses

From the Fields: Desert Region Value-added Salads

Value-added salads and tender leaf items from the Arizona/California desert region have been experiencing challenges related to erratic weather patterns over the past two months. Extreme heat in October has been followed by a windy November with temperatures below historic averages.

• Row crop vegetable growth is progressing at an extremely slow pace, forcing growers to harvest raw product at less-than-ideal maturity levels
• Romaine heads consist of mainly dark green color and light leaf density that can lead to bruising and shortened shelf-life
• Both iceberg and romaine supplies are showing varying levels of high core/seeder, which is difficult for processing crews to eliminate completely
• Some tender leaf items such as arugula have developed mildew damage and yellowing

Temperatures will rise through the weekend with seasonal norms expected next week, but it will take a few weeks for raw product supplies to reach ideal maturity.

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Green leaf, iceberg, and romaine prices are falling rapidly as demand weakens. Supplies and field weights continue to increase due to a recent warming trend.

• The majority of the growers have transitioned production to the Arizona-California desert regions
  • Quality is strong; iceberg weights remain low but are increasing daily
  • Bottom rot, sun scalding, and seeder are minor issues
• Limited harvests continue in Salinas, Santa Maria, and Huron, California; supplies will be fully depleted by the end of this week
• Expect the markets to decline into next week amid weak demand due to the Thanksgiving holiday
• MFC Premium Green Leaf and Romaine are available
• MFC Iceberg is sporadic; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed due to low weights

Yuma, Arizona Temperatures

Pears

Storage crop supplies are available out of Oregon and Washington. Expect prices to gradually increase as supplies tighten.

Oregon/Washington

• Due to the freezing temperatures in early spring, 2024 Northwestern pear volume is down between 25% and 35%
• Bartletts are available; stocks are dominated by large sizes (80- to 100-count fruit); 110-count and smaller stocks are extremely limited
• D’Anjou production will increase by late December
  • 110-count and smaller supplies are tight
  • 70- to 90-count sizes are readily available
• Quality is excellent

Squash

Fall weather is tightening zucchini and yellow squash supplies. Markets are escalating. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available

• Production has slowed in the Mexican region of Sonora due to cold weather and lower yields
  • Overall quality is good; wind scarring is an occasional issue
  • Early spot harvesting has begun further south in Sinaloa; volume will build to full production in early December
• The Georgia season will end over the next two weeks
• Florida production has begun; stocks are increasing
• Expect higher markets over the next two weeks

Strawberries

Seven days of rain are expected in California’s Salinas/Watsonville, Santa Maria, and Oxnard strawberry growing regions starting Friday, November 22. Strawberry volume is beginning to rise in Mexico (into South Texas). The Florida season is getting underway; supplies will increase in December.

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available
• The fall crop has passed its peak; volume is down-trending
• Size currently ranges from small to medium (48 to 53 berries per 2-pound clamshell)
• Quality is good; some softness and green shoulders have been reported
• Expect markets to climb, as yields fall

Oxnard

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Volume is increasing, helping fill the industry void from other growing regions
• Size currently ranges from medium to large (18 to 21 berries per 1-pound clamshell)
• Quality is good; color is deep red color and flavor is sweet
• Expect markets to remain

Mexico (into South Texas)

• Early season volume is low
• Size currently ranges from medium to large (20 to 24 berries per 1-pound clamshell)
• Quality is good; small size and white shoulders have been reported
• Expect increasing volume (crossing into San Juan, Texas)
• Markets will remain high

Florida

• Growers have begun shipping berries in a limited manner
• Quality will slowly improve week after week.

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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