Grapefruit

Supplies are beginning to tighten as the Southern California season winds down. Expect strong demand and elevated markets through October.

Southern California

• Production is beginning to decline as the season will wrap up late October
• Quality is fair; excessive heat is causing soft fruit
• Size is dominated by 23- and 27-count fruit; 56-count sizes are limited
• Expect tighter stocks and high prices through the end of seasonal transition (late October)

Arizona/California Desert

• The season is expected to start in early November
• The Arizona/California growing regions consist of:
  • Brawley, CA
  • Yuma, AZ

South Texas

• The season will begin in early November

Green Beans

Green bean supplies are tight. Past weather has affected plant yields and overall quality on both coasts.

• Ready-Set-Serve Trimmed Green Beans are extremely limited; packer label is being substituted as necessary
• East Coast growers are transitioning south to Virginia and Georgia
• Early production is light in Georgia due to past inclement weather during the planting cycle; quality is average
• Hurricane Ian will affect Florida’s late fall/early winter crops
• Mexican volume remains low due to monsoon weather during September
• California has reduced yields caused by past heatwaves and rain
• Quality issues include excess decay on outer leaves, roots, and stems; quality will improve over the next 12-14 days as fields recover
• Expect prices to climb over the next week

Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian is projected to intensify into a Category Four hurricane and pose a major danger to the southeastern United States, especially Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas over the upcoming week. Current projections are anticipating landfall on the west side of Florida by late Thursday, September 29, and heading northwards.

• Potential heavy rainfall will have the largest impact on Florida’s fall crops that have already been planted; these crops are mostly planted seeds/seedlings and include:
  • Bell Peppers
  • Cabbage
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant
  • Green Beans
  • Squash
  • Tomatoes
• Expect delays in Georgia production, which started up last week, and potential plant damage over the upcoming weekend
• The Carolinas are past their peak growing season; inclement weather might disrupt or bring an early end to their season
• Growers are expected to harvest as much as possible during the first part of this week in preparation for storms

Oranges

California’s Valencia season is winding down earlier than anticipated; expect remaining supplies to be depleted by mid- to late October.

• Markon First Crop and Markon Essentials Valencia Oranges are sporadic; packer label oranges are being substituted as necessary
• Valencia supplies will be extremely tight until Navels begin shipping in late October
  • Quality concerns include soft fruit, skin breakdown, and re-greening
  • Soft fruit can result in pressure compression/misshapen fruit and stem-end aging spots
• Offshore oranges from Chile, Morocco, South Africa, and Uruguay are available on the East Coast; Chilean supplies are available on the West Coast
• Imported stocks are dominated by 88-count and larger sizes, as well as fancy grade fruit
• Delivered costs for offshore Navels will be roughly $5.00 to $8.00 higher per case than domestic Valencias
• Expect that price spread between domestic and offshore fruit to become smaller as domestic supplies dwindle and markets rise

Squash

New crop squash regions in the Southeastern U.S. are bracing for Hurricane Ian this week. West Coast markets are elevated due to tight volume and strong demand.

• East Coast squash production is transitioning down the coast from North Carolina to Georgia

• • Quality is fair: disease and insect pressure are the primary concerns during pack out
  • Yellow squash is limited due to fewer acres planted
  • Growers are expected to pack early this week in preparation of Hurricane Ian

• California production is limited in Santa Maria as their season winds down over the next three to four weeks

• • Overall quality is average
  • Yellow squash volume is low
• Mexican supplies (crossing through Nogales, Arizona) will increase over the next few weeks
• Expect prices to rise this week with hurricane uncertainty along the East Coast

Stone Fruit

The California stone fruit season is expected to wrap up in the next 7-10 days.

Peaches/Nectarines

• Supplies are extremely tight; coverage is on a day-by-day basis
• The California season will run through the end of September
• The Chilean peach and nectarine season begins in mid-January

Plums

• Supplies are extremely tight; coverage is on a day-by-day basis

• The California season will run through late September
• The Chilean plum season begins in mid-January

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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