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UPDATE SUMMARY: WEEK OF NOVEMBER 4, 2021

November 4, 2021

Bell Peppers

Green Bells

  • California’s coastal area of Hollister is winding down
  • The Coachella region is underway
    • Volume is moderate
    • All sizes are available; extra-large stocks are snug
    • Quality is good
  • Cool autumn weather is impeding growth in Georgia; supplies are expected to run through November
    • Overall quality is good
    • The South Florida crown pick harvest has begun; large sizes are most plentiful
  • Mexico’s Sonora region (crossing in Nogales, Arizona) is expected to start production in mid-November; the Culiacan region will begin shipping in late November
  • Prices are expected to remain firm until the Mexican season starts

 

Red Bells

  • California is currently the main growing region for North America; expect the transition from central/coastal regions to Coachella during the latter part of November
    • Cool weather and previous rain is reducing plant yields/size
    • Quality is good
  • Sonora, Mexico is expected to start in mid-December barring any severe weather; Culiacan region will being late December
  • East Coast volume is low
  • Reduced seasonal sunlight is quickly ending greenhouse production in Canada
  • Prices are expected to remain elevated over the next two to three weeks

 

Broccoli and Cauliflower

  • Supplies will continue to increase over the next two weeks
  • Growers will be harvesting new crop broccoli and cauliflower out of the desert growing region the week of November 15
  • Mexican-grown broccoli is crossing into South Texas
  • Prices are expected to decease through the transition from Salinas Valley to the desert growing region over the next few weeks

 

California Citrus

Navel Oranges

  • The crop is dominated by 88-, 113-, and 138-count sizes
  • Expect small sizes to come off slightly in price and larger size fruit will stay firm
  • Groves being harvested now are flush with Fancy grade fruit; choice grade stocks are light
  • Cool nights are enhancing the orange color, gas times range from 72-96 hours, but are dropping by the week
  • Sugar levels are 11.5 to 12 Brix, with high acid

 

Lemons

  • The crop is dominated by 140- and 200-count sizes
  • Fancy grade fruit is beginning to outweigh choice grade stocks
  • Expecting markets to remain steady
  • Quality is excellent

 

Green Leaf and Romaine

  • Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Green Leaf and Romaine are available
  • Disease pressure continues to reduce yields, though not as severely as in iceberg crops
  • Overall quality is very good: light fringe burn and mildew pressure are present in some lots
  • Green leaf and romaine harvests will start in the Arizona/California desert growing region the week of November 8 and will ramp up in mid- to late November
  • Salinas Valley production will finish for the season in mid- to late November
  • Expect elevated markets to persist through late November at minimum

 

Iceberg

  • Markon First Crop Premium Iceberg is extremely limited; Markon Best Available will be substituted due to low weights for the next two weeks
  • Disease pressure continues to reduce yields, causing some growers in the Salinas Valley to finish their season earlier than anticipated
  • Overall quality is good
    • Inconsistent texture, mildew pressure, and wind damage are being reported
    • Elevated levels of pinking may develop in the coming days due to excessive nitrogen from heavy rainfall earlier this week
  • Iceberg production is underway in Huron, California; harvesting will continue through late November
  • A handful of growers in the Yuma, Arizona region will begin harvesting next week; the majority of suppliers will be fully transitioned the week of November 15
  • Expect sustained active/elevated markets through the harvesting transition to the Arizona/California desert region

 

Idaho Potatoes

 Norkotahs

  • Markon First Crop (MFC) Norkotah Potatoes are readily available
  • Load volume is available for 40- and 50-count supplies
  • Small sizes (70- to 100-count potatoes) will be tight through December; prices are expected to continue rising
  • Quality is strong

 

Burbanks

  • MFC Burbank Potatoes have begun shipping in a limited manner
  • The season will be in full swing by November 8
  • 80-count and smaller sizes dominate the crop at this stage
  • Quality is very good

 

Limes

  • Growers are seeing higher levels of quality issues in their younger fruit, as it matures
  • Styler and skin breakdown are being reported; high attention is going into grading
  • 150-count and larger fruit is light in color and showing scaring issues
  • High-quality supplies are very limited; prices are increasing
  • Quality issues will persist through November; expect improvement when new crop supplies arrive in three weeks
    • Current sizing is dominated by 150- and 175-count sizes

 

Strawberries

Santa Maria, California

  • Plants were stripped of fruit after last week’s rains, significantly reducing harvestable berry counts per plant this week and next
  • Quality remains a challenge; concerns include: bruising, water damage, and minor wind scarring
  • Loading delays are expected through this weekend
  • Plastic clamshells will be substituted for the corrugated packs

 

Oxnard, California

  • Production remains limited
  • Volumes are expected to increase gradually over the next two to three weeks
  • The estimated start date for Oxnard fruit is the week of January 3

 

Central Mexico

  • Rain and cooler temperatures have impacted production
  • Volume is expected to increase gradually over the next two to three weeks
  • Berries will begin to cross into McAllen, Texas in early December 1

 

 Florida

  • Harvesting will start in mid-December
  • Orders will start shipping after December 15

 

Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule 2021

  • Idaho, Oregon, and Washington onion and potato growers will not load trucks on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 25)
    • Sheds will operate on a limited basis on Wednesday, November 24, Friday, November 26 and Saturday, November 27
    • All orders must be placed no later than 10 a.m. on Monday, November 15 (for loading Wednesday, November 24 and Friday, November 26)
    • Trucks must call ahead for loading arrangements
  • All Arizona, California, and East Coast grower-shippers will be closed on Thanksgiving (no loading available Thursday, November 25)
    • Expect some suppliers to operate under restricted shipping hours on Wednesday, November 24 and Friday, November 26
    • Trucks must call ahead for appointments
  • Taylor Farms will be the only exception with limited loading on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 25)
  • Taylor loading hours will run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 25
    • Taylor loading hours for Friday, November 26 will be normal schedule
    • Trucks that need to load at Taylor later than 8:00 p.m. on Friday must call to make arrangements
  • 4-Earth Farms will close at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24 and will reopen at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, November 26
  • Many shippers’ sales offices will be operating on a restricted basis Wednesday, November 24 and Friday, November 26

 

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

 

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