Broccoli

Prices continue to escalate; poor weather is diminishing quality across multiple regions.

California

• Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being harvested in California’s Salinas Valley; packer label is being substituted as necessary
• Supplies are extremely limited in the Salinas, Santa Maria, and Lompoc Valleys
• Inconsistent temperatures and this week’s heavy rainstorm will exacerbate current quality issues and reduce yields
• Quality is below-average; pin rot, yellow/brown bead, hollow core, and occasional decay are problems
• Insect pressure, from Diamondback moth pupa/larvae and aphids, is further limiting supplies
• Expect prices to remain elevated through the rest of the Salinas and Santa Maria seasons
• The Arizona and California desert seasons are set to begin first week of November

Mexico

• Mexican-grown MBA Broccoli continues to ship into South Texas
• Strong demand and low availability are pushing markets up

• Warmer weather and tropical storms continue to cause quality challenges and disrupt normal harvesting schedules
• Quality issues such as hollow core, cat eye, undeveloped beads, and occasional insect pressure are being noted
• Expect markets to remain tight heading into November

East Coast/Midwest/Canada

• Increased demand has pushed up prices
• Overall quality is good, but availability is limited
• Maine, Indiana, North and South Carolina are producing the bulk of current supplies
• Growers in Georgia and Florida will begin harvesting in the late fall/early winter
• Expect prices to continue inching up as demand shifts to the East Coast

Brussels Sprouts

Markets continue to climb in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys amid incoming rains and persistent quality issues. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are limited; packer label is being substituted.

• Supplies are extremely limited in Monterey County (Salinas Valley) and Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria and Lompoc Valley)
• Rain is expected in the Salinas Valley early this week; quality issues will increase, minimizing yields
• Quality is fair; rainstorms followed by a slight warming trend over the weekend will lead to excessive seeder (long internal stem), especially in jumbo sizes
• Diamondback moth pupa/larvae continue to reduce harvestable yields
• Expect higher pricing and limited availability for the next 7-10 days, at least

California Oranges

California’s San Joaquin Valley citrus growing district experienced a series of rain events Monday, October 13 through October 14. Markon expects California to experience an orange supply gap that will persist into next week. Size, grade, Country of Origin substitutions, and loading date changes will be necessary to fill orders.

• MFC Oranges are available
• This region received up to one inch of rain yesterday and another half inch is anticipated for today
• 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
• Expect to make size, grade, and Country of Origin substitutions, as well as date changes to fill orders

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

Weather across key California and Arizona growing regions is expected to tighten supplies and push prices higher in the short term. MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons are available.

Cantaloupe

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Harvesting is winding down as the San Joaquin Valley season nears completion
• Light to moderate rain (0.5–1.25 inches) is forecast through Tuesday, which may limit field access and prompt some growers to finish early
• Pricing has increased modestly but is expected to rise further as supplies tighten
• Quality remains good; sugar levels range between 12–15% Brix, though dirty rinds and surface decay could develop in wetter fields

Arizona-California Desert Region

• First harvests are set to begin over the next two weeks as growers transition to desert fields
• Light rainfall (up to 0.25 inches) is possible but not expected to cause major delays
• Pricing will start high due to tighter overall supplies and limited overlap with the California season

Honeydew

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Harvesting will conclude over the next one to two weeks
• Size continues to trend toward five- and jumbo five-count melons; six- and eight-count availability remains low
• Pricing is climbing as weather impacts production schedules and growers wrap up harvests early
• Quality remains good; sugar levels range from 11–14% Brix, though wet conditions could cause scarring or decay in heavier soils

Arizona-California Desert Region

• The first harvests of the season will begin next week
• Pricing will start high due to low initial volume and strong transitional demand

Sonora, Mexico

• Seasonal harvests will begin this week
• Hurricane Priscilla brought one to two inches of rain to growing regions; minimal flooding is reported, but minor delays are possible as fields dry
• New crop fruit will help relieve tight domestic demand once volume increases

Cauliflower

Markets are skyrocketing as the weather worsens this week, further damaging crops and lowering yields. ESS Cauliflower is limited; packer label is being substituted as necessary.

Salinas and Santa Maria, California

• Supplies are extremely tight; heavy rains are forecast for this week, creating harvesting disruptions and worsening quality
• Demand is strong; larger 9- and 12-count sizes are limited
• Quality ranges from fair to poor; discoloration, brown bead, mold, and mildew are being reported in most lots
• Insect damage, from Diamondback moth pupa/larvae, continues to be a challenge
• Planted acres for the end of the Salinas season were reduced earlier this year due to weaker demand, further limiting yields industrywide
• Expect extremely tight supplies and elevated prices until the Arizona/California desert season begins in early November

East Coast/Midwest/Canada

• Markets are climbing as demand shifts from the West Coast to the East Coast
• Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Indiana are currently harvesting
• Production will begin in Georgia and Florida in the late fall/early winter to offset the end of the Maine season
• Expect markets to remain high through the next few weeks until demand eases

Cucumbers

Prices are on the rise. East Coast supplies are slowing as summer and fall seasons wind down. Mexico is recovering from rain delays in many of the growing regions last week. MFC Cucumbers are available.

• Northeast and Midwest production has ended
• North Carolina has slowed production due to cooler nights and will finish this week
• Georgia has seen good volumes but cooler nights over the weekend has slowed production
• Florida is expected to start harvesting in the next two weeks
• Mexico has light production out of Baja and Sonora due to inclement weather from recent storms
• Expect elevated markets as supply is short

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romain

Markets continue to escalate following storms in the Salinas Valley. Quality and yields will further diminish into next week.

• MBA is being substituted due to low weights
• Most growers were rained out of harvests yesterday; today production is ongoing but slow as crews work through wet and muddy conditions
• In addition to one to two inches of rain (depending on location), some areas received hail yesterday afternoon, damaging mature and upcoming crops
• Markon’s Quality Assurance team will continue to work closely with our grower-partners to select the very best lots and parts of the field for packing
• Expect markets to remain elevated through the transition to the Arizona/California desert season in mid-November

Green Onions

Heavy rain has pushed up green onion prices in Mexicali, Mexico.

• RSS Green Onions are available
• Residual rains moving north from Tropical Storm Priscilla moved through some growing areas in Mexicali this past weekend, reducing harvestable yields for this week
• Dry, warm weather is forecast for the rest of this week, which will allow normal production to resume
• Markon is working with our growers to ensure 100% fill rates
• Expect a lift in industrywide pricing until supplies normalize over the next 7-10 days

Tomatoes

Inclement autumn weather will bring an end to several growing seasons this week, including California and Virginia; overall supplies are tightening. Mexico has experienced poor weather, lowering yields and increasing prices. MFC Tomatoes are available.

Rounds

• Tennessee volume has fallen due to rain and lower temperatures
• Inclement weather will end production in Virginia earlier than scheduled
• Yields are high in South Carolina and Georgia
• Florida’s Quincy region has started production this week
• California’s San Joaquin Valley season will finish over the next week due to rainstorms; growers are seeing a wide range in quality
• Mexico’s Baja crop is recovering from recent Tropical Storm Pricilla; fall crop transitions are also underway
• Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas) is experiencing erratic production due to recent storms; overall supply levels are below previous years
• Expect higher prices over the next month until harvesting is fully established in Florida and Western Mexico

Romas

• South Carolina will ship through October
• Florida growers have started production this week; fewer fields were planted this season
• California’s San Joaquin Valley will wind down quickly this week; quality is diminishing
• Yields are low in Central Mexico; quality is fair
• Baja growers are rebounding from recent heavy rains; stocks are snug
• Expect rising markets over the next month

Grape & Cherry Varieties

• Florida production started a couple of weeks ago; stocks are sufficient
• The Baja and Central Mexico regions are shipping steady supplies
• Expect stable prices next week

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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