Asparagus

Prices continue to rise; poor weather is interrupting production in Mexico; jumbo and extra-large sizes are extremely limited.

Mexico

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is limited out of Baja, Mexico
• Tropical storms will bring heavy rainfall to major growing regions in Baja and Sonora, Mexico this weekend
• Rain and wind are expected to minimize yields, reducing overall imported supplies
• Jumbo and extra-large sizes are especially tight as mature fields are forced to close early due to weather conditions
• Quality ranges from fair to average; undersized and wrinkling spears have been reported, as well as spreading/seeding tips
• Expect higher pricing and lower availability, especially of jumbo sizes, over the next 7-10 days

Peru

• Peruvian supply levels are normalizing following recent shipping disruptions this past month
• Quality is good; spears have firm tips and minimal spreading/seeding
• Expect elevated markets over the next 7-10 days

Bell Peppers

Red bell pepper markets are low due to abundant supplies in California. Green bell harvesting is transitioning to new crop autumn growing regions in October. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Red Bells

• California’s coastal production is steady
  • All sizes are available
  • Quality is good
• Volume has increased in Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas)
• Canadian greenhouses have reduced volume due to fewer hours of sunlight
• Expect steady prices over the next week

Green Bells

• California coastal production will transition to the Imperial Valley over the next two weeks; choice-grade peppers are most plentiful

• Central Mexico is shipping steady volume into South Texas
• The Midwest seasons in Michigan and Ohio will finish next week
• North Carolina production is winding down and will end in the next week
• Georgia harvests are fully underway
• Expect slightly higher prices over the next two weeks due to regional transitions

Broccoli

Tight supplies and persistent quality issues are driving up prices in multiple growing regions.

California

• Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being harvested in California’s Salinas Valley
• Supplies are extremely tight in the Salinas, Santa Maria, and Lompoc Valleys
• Hot, humid weather and intermittent storms have led to growth and quality challenges
• Quality is below-average; pin rot, yellow/brown bead, hollow core, and occasional decay are problems
• Insect pressure is heavy; Diamondback moth pupa/larvae and aphids continue to infest fields and minimize yields
• Plants are past peak production as the Salinas and Santa Maria growing seasons near completion
• Expect prices to remain elevated for the next several weeks

Mexico

• Mexican-grown MBA Broccoli continues to ship into South Texas
• Markets are on the rise as demand shifts from the West Coast to Mexico
• Warmer, humid weather is forecast to continue in this region through the late fall, limiting supplies
• Quality is fair; heavy hollow core, cat eye, undeveloped beads, and occasional insect pressure are being noted
• Expect some relief in early November as improved weather conditions will lead to stronger quality

East Coast/Midwest/Canada

• Prices are climbing due to strong demand
• Overall quality is good, but availability is limited
• Maine, Indiana, and North Carolina are producing the bulk of current supplies
• Growers in Georgia and Florida will begin harvesting in the late fall/early winter to offset the end of the Maine season
• Expect prices to continue inching upwards as demand shifts to the East Coast

California Strawberries

Rain is forecast for October 13 and 14 in all California strawberry growing regions. The Mexican season has begun; limited supplies are crossing into South Texas.

Santa Maria/Oxnard

• MFC Strawberries are available

• Quality ranges from fair to good; rain will decrease overall quality, causing white shoulders, bruising, and mildew
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• Expect tight supplies and elevated markets

Salinas/Watsonville

• Stocks continue to diminish as the season is coming to an end
• Size currently ranges from small to medium (20- to 24-count per one-pound clamshell)
• Quality ranges from fair to poor; softness and early decay have been reported

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

Cantaloupe and honeydew melon production will transition back to the Arizona-California desert region over the next two weeks. MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons are available.

Cantaloupe

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Harvesting is winding down as the San Joaquin Valley season nears completion
• Size is skewed toward 9- and jumbo 9-count melons; 12- and 15-count supplies are limited
• Pricing has risen modestly but is expected to remain moderate as overall demand is soft
• Quality remains strong; sugar levels range between 12–15% Brix, indicating good internal and external color

Arizona-California Desert Region

• First harvests are set to begin in two weeks as growers transition to desert fields
• Pricing will start high due to tighter overall supplies

Honeydew

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Harvesting will conclude over the next two weeks
• Size continues to trend toward 5- and jumbo 5-count melons; 6- and 8-count availability remains tight
• Pricing has increased as some growers have ended production
• Quality remains good; sugar levels range from 11–14% Brix, although some sugar netting/scarring is prevalent

Arizona-California Desert Region

• First harvests will begin next week
• Pricing will start high due to low volume

Sonora, Mexico

• This season will begin next week, helping relieve domestic demand

Cauliflower

Strong demand continues to drive up pricing. Yields are down due to significant quality problems. ESS Cauliflower is limited; packer label is being substituted as necessary.

Salinas and Santa Maria, California

• Supplies are extremely tight as warmer, humid weather and inconsistent rain have disrupted growth
• Demand is very strong; large 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, is also an issue
• Plants are tired and less resilient as we near the end of the Salinas and Santa Maria growing seasons
• Expect extremely tight supplies and elevated prices to persist through the next few weeks

East Coast/Midwest/Canada

• Markets are climbing up as demand shifts from the West Coast to the East Coast
• Overall quality ranges from fair to good; several summertime seasons have ended on the East Coast and in Eastern Canada
• Maine continues to produce the bulk of the East Coast supplies; production in new growing regions in North Carolina, New York, and Indiana is slowly ramping up
• Harvests will start in Georgia and Florida in the late fall/early winter
• Expect markets to remain high through the next few weeks until West Coast supplies increase

Limes

Heavy rains in Veracruz, Mexico are delaying harvests, tightening lime supplies scheduled for next week. MFC and ESS Limes are available.

Mexico (into South Texas)

• Poor weather in the main growing region is delaying harvests and reducing availability
• Rain is causing some stylar and skin breakdown, but new crop fruit is showing better resilience
• Supplies are dominated by 200- and 230-count fruit, followed by 175-count stocks; 110-count limes are limited
• Markets may rise as short-term volume decreases
• Hurricane season continues to bring consistent rain to the region, which may disrupt production schedules and limit shipments in the coming weeks.

Colombia

• Packer label limes are available for loading out of Florida; supplies remain steady with strong quality
• Sizing is well balanced; minimal scarring or blanching has been reported
• Ongoing hurricane activity may bring additional rain, potentially impacting harvests and logistics

Mixed Berries

Although the Pacific Northwest blueberry season has ended, Mexican growers have begun harvesting new crop berries and offshore shipments are arriving in North American ports.

Blackberries

• Mexican supplies have begun to rebound after recent rain

• • Quality remains fair
  • Heat-related issues are present from past weather patterns

• Over-ripened berries and decay are being reported

• The  fall season has started in Watsonville, California; quality is excellent
• Expect markets to remain steady

Blueberries

• Limited production has started in Mexico this week

• The Pacific Northwest season has officially ended

• Peruvian shipments are now arriving in the U.S.
• Prices are stable

Raspberries

• Mexican quality has begun to improve after recent rain
• California’s Santa Maria and Watsonville regions are shipping high-quality fruit
• Quality is very good out of Baja, Mexico
• The market is level

Squash

Squash will transition south in October due to cool autumn weather. West Mexico crops are starting next week. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

• Midwest production is expected to end over the next two weeks
• Heavy volumes in North Carolina and Georgia are driving prices down; quality is very good
• California’s Santa Maria region will end abruptly this weekend due to recent rain and high humidity
  • The Central Valley has steady production and good quality
• West Mexico growers (crossing in Nogales) are starting next week with light volume; yellow squash is limited
  • The Baja Peninsula has steady light volume crossing into Otay Mesa
• Expect continued low prices on the east coast and slightly higher prices in the West

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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