UPDATE SUMMARY: WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

From The Fields

• Temperatures will remain above average in California’s Salinas Valley through next week
• Coastal temperatures will remain at seasonal norms, but inland areas will experience temperatures ranging from the 80s to the low to mid-90s before gradually cooling next week

• Markon inspectors will monitor how the hot and humid conditions affect leaf and lettuce items
• Potential quality challenges include:
  • Bottom rot
  • Dehydration
  • Fringe burn
  • Growth cracks
  • Internal burn
  • Mildew pressure
  • Sun scalding

Oranges

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials California Valencia Oranges are available
• Valencia supplies will be extremely limited until the Navel Season begins approximately the last week of October/early November
• Small-size fruit (113- to 138-count oranges) will be extremely tight for the remainder of the Valencia season
• Quality concerns include re-greening and decay due to above-normal temperatures through the summer months
• Shelf-life is shorter than normal; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns

Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Green Onions

• RSS Green Onions are available
• Yields have increased in Mexicali, Mexico, but remain lower than normal
• Day and nighttime temperatures are elevated, but are closer to seasonal averages this past week
• Expect lower prices next week

Tomatoes

• MFC Tomatoes are available
• The East Coast has lower volume due to previous tropical storms that impacted plant health and reduced yields
  • The Tennessee and North Carolina regions are expected to have a shorter season this year; additional grading is required
  • Virginia fall crops are settling into moderate crown-pick production; grape tomato quality is very good
  • Expect the Quincy, Florida season to begin in mid-October
• California round and Roma tomato production is steady
  • Round MG tomatoes from Northern California are of good quality; 6×6 and 6×7 sizes dominate the crop
  • Roma quality is good; large to jumbo sizes are more prevalent
  • The Oceanside region will harvest ample supplies of vine ripes over the next two to three weeks
• Mexico has steady volume as it works through previous weather-related quality issues
  • Vine ripe and Roma volume in Jalisco and San Luis Potosi is on the lighter side due to prior rain storms; quality is good
  • The Baja region is experiencing rain this week and some grape and Roma harvests are delayed; overall volume is expected to increase by mid-October
• Prices should remain elevated over the next two to three weeks

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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