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UPDATE SUMMARY: WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

October 7, 2024

Asparagus

Prices have peaked and will begin to inch lower, though tight supplies and strong demand continue. Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available.

Mexico

  • The Baja peninsula will continue as the primary growing region through October
  • Quality and shelf-life potential are improving amid cooler weather; some lots are still exhibiting elevated levels of seeder/feathering tips
  • Size distribution is heavily skewed towards small spears; substituting small packs for standard or large sizes will yield considerable FOB cost savings
  • Expect markets to continue softening towards the middle of October, as additional fields open and a slight cooling trend continues

Peru

  • Imported stocks (shipped into Miami, Florida) will become less available due to East Coast port closures
  • Yields are low, but steady; and set to pick up in a light way with the Southern Hemisphere’s spring

Bell Peppers

East Coast growers are recovering from Hurricane Helene, while California volume will decrease through late October when growers transition to the Arizona-California desert region. Overall supplies are limited, causing markets to rise.

California has sufficient red bell pepper supplies due to excellent growing conditions in the coastal regions; prices are slightly lower. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

  • California’s coastal growing region of Hollister is winding down
    • Expect reduced volume over the next three weeks
    • Jumbo sizes are limited
    • Choice grades will become more abundant in October
    • Growers will start light harvesting in the California desert region the week of October 21
  • Late summer production in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey is finishing up this week
  • Growers in Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Georgia are assessing fields after Hurricane Helene
    • Expect low volume over the next two to three weeks in North Carolina
    • Georgia is drying out and will begin light harvests this week
    • The Florida fall season is expected to start in late October
  • Markets are starting to climb due to severe weather, regional transitions, and strong demand

Red Bells

  • California’s coastal regions are seeing hot weather in the mid-90s this week, increasing yields and overall volume
    • All sizes are available
    • Quality is very good
  • Central Mexico supplies (crossing into South Texas) are sufficient and of good quality
  • Canadian greenhouse volume is slowing down; however, the season will continue through October
  • Markets are slightly lower this week

Broccoli

Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being packed out of Salinas, California and Guanajuato, Mexico (shipping out of South Texas). 

  • Markets are steady
    • California supplies are forecast to meet strong projected demand through October
    • Mexican stocks are sufficient; markets are lower than those on the West Coast
  • A heat wave in California is causing quality concerns
    • Pin rot/brown bead, branching, hollow core, yellowing, and insect pressure are being monitored closely
    • Field crews are selectively harvesting crowns to ensure uniformity and acceptable quality
  • Minimal regionally grown supplies out of the Midwest and East coast are available
    • The Eastern Canada, Maine, and New Jersey seasons are finished or finishing within the next week
    • The southeastern region will see supplies this month, but the season’s outlook remains uncertain due to heavy rains from Hurricane Helene
  • Expect markets to inch higher throughout early to mid-October

Cilantro

  • Despite ample supplies in multiple California growing regions, persistent heat is hampering quality and shortening shelf life
    • Abnormally hot weather is leading to thick stems, wide leaves, seeder/bolting, damaged, yellow, and spotted leaves
    • Markon recommends ordering for short turns and maintaining lean inventories
  • California temperatures will ease later this week, which will lead to improved quality and shelf life by mid-October
  • Expect prices to remain steady through for the next 10-14 days

East Coast and Gulf Port Strikes

Operations at 14 US ports has ceased as of midnight on October 1. Negotiations between East Coast and Gulf Coast port workers and management have not progressed as expected.

  • A port worker strike has begun at midnight on October 1, affecting workers at the ports of Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Hampton Roads, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Savannah, Tampa, and Willington
  • It is estimated each day of the strike continues would equal four to six-day delays in unloading vessels/shipments
  • This strike will put a strain on perishable agricultural products, especially lemons, oranges, pineapples, bananas, and limes
  • Growers are facing the largest risk of the impending strike
    • Millions of dollars of product will be stuck in the river or at ports
    • Once ports open back up the salvageable product will enter the market place in unfavorable market conditions

From the Fields: Salinas Valley Heat Spike

California’s Salinas Valley will experience a heat wave today through Wednesday, October 2 as high pressure strengthens over the region. Coastal temperatures will be in the upper 60°s to mid-80°s and inland areas will see highs in the upper 80°s to low 100°s. Morning lows will be in the upper 40°s to low 60°s throughout the region.

Markon inspectors are already observing typical end-of-season quality challenges such as increased insect pressure, bolting/seeder, soil disease pressure, and shortened shelf-life in a variety of commodity and value-added vegetable items. This week’s heat will likely compound and prolong some of these challenges as the season continues to wind down.

Ordering for quick turns is recommended and as always, maintaining the cold chain throughout distribution will be critical for maximizing the quality and shelf-life of perishable produce.

Green Onions

Green onion prices remain elevated; supplies are set to improve a bit throughout October following relief from persistent heat in the primary growing region of Mexicali, Mexico.

  • Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Washed & Trimmed Green Onions are available
  • Storm systems wiped out many mature lots five to six weeks ago
  • Excessive heat has continued to slow the growth of younger plantings, keeping industry supplies limited
  • A cooling trend arrived last week and is set to continue, promoting better yields
  • Expect markets to inch lower by mid-October as more product becomes available

Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida Thursday night, September 26, as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm moved through growing regions in the Florida panhandle, Georgia, western South Carolina, western North Carolina and into eastern Tennessee.

  • Initial reports out of South Georgia and North Florida growing regions are better than expected, despite heavy rainfall
    • Moultrie and Bainbridge, Georgia received 12-14 inches of rain
    • Lake Park, Georgia received 7-9 inches of rain
    • Jennings, Florida received 6-8 inches of rain
    • Quincy, Florida received 8-10 inches of rain
  • Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina look to be the most impacted due to heavy flooding
    • Newport, Tennessee received 10-12 inches of rain
    • Scaly Mountain, North Carolina received 12-14 inches of rain
  • Current forecast shows minimal rain in each region for today and tomorrow, September 30 and October 1
  • Fall crop production is expected to start on schedule in South Georgia later this week
  • Markon will continue to monitor and update as more information from the fields becomes available

Limes

Markets are easing as more new crop fruit becomes available in Veracruz, Mexico. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Limes are available. 

  • Volume is increasing in Mexico as more growers break into new crop fields
  • Prices are rapidly falling for smaller, 230- through 250-count sizes
    • 200-count markets are easing at a slower pace
    • Larger, 110- through 175-count limes remain limited; prices are decreasing slowly
  • Quality is improving; large-size limes may still exhibit higher percentages of stylar end, oil spotting, and occasional decay
  • Expect pricing to decrease over the next two to three weeks

Mixed Berries

Expect tight blueberry supplies through October. Raspberry and blackberry volumes are rising as new crop harvesting gets underway in Mexico.

Blueberries

  • Demand exceeds current availability
  • Quality is good
  • The Pacific Northwest season has ended
  • Peruvian and Mexican imports are insufficient
  • Expect tight supplies and high prices

Blackberries

  • California stocks are insufficient
  • Suppliers have started early production in Mexico; yields are increasing
  • Quality is fair; soft skins and red cells have been reported
  • The Pacific Northwest season has ended
  • Expect pricing to slowly decrease

Raspberries

  • The Baja season has ended
  • Growers in Central Mexico have begun shipping limited quantities of raspberries; stocks will become more plentiful through the month
  • Quality is fair; issues include leaky berries with light crumbling (individual cells separate from the berry)
  • Demand is slowly declining

Potatoes

New crop, fresh-run Markon First Crop (MFC) Norkotah Potatoes are currently being shipped out of Idaho and Washington. 

Norkotahs

  • New crop harvesting is expected to finish in a few weeks
  • Current fresh-run harvests are producing large-size potatoes (40- through 70-count supplies); small-size potatoes (80- through 120-count stocks) are limited
  • Quality remains excellent; skinning and excess moisture may be observed in fresh-run potatoes
  • MFC Norkotah Potatoes will begin to ship out of storage the week of October 21

Squash

Cooler Autumn temperatures and recent severe weather will accelerate some squash transitions on the East Coast. New regions in Georgia and Mexico are ramping up, ready to take over in October.

  • Midwest regions, Michigan and Ohio, are finishing their seasons due to cooler autumn weather and reduced daylight hours
  • The East Coast is recovering from Hurricane Helene, working through inventory harvested before to the storm
    • The main North Carolina season is ending early due to recent poor weather (reduced demand and crop condition)
    • Georgia is drying out with decent volumes this week
    • Florida will have light new crop supplies over the next few weeks
  • California’s Santa Maria region will end in three to four weeks, weather permitting
    • Currently temperatures are in the high 80’s, which is improving yields
  • The Mexican region of Sonora is starting to harvest light supplies of new crop zucchini this week crossing into Nogales, Arizona; yellow squash will start next week
  • Overall, yellow squash prices are slightly elevated due to less supply; zucchini prices are lower
  • Expect steady markets as new regions begin this week

Strawberries

California growing regions are experiencing higher temperatures this week, which could impact fruit quality. Issues may include soft skin, over-ripeness, and bruising.

Santa Maria

  • Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available
  • Quality is good
  • Size ranges from 22 to 25 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 42-45 per 4/2-pound pack (small-medium to medium)
    • Occasional misshaped fruit and light bronzing are issues
    • Peak harvest has begun with some shippers
  • Expect markets to remain steady

Salinas/Watsonville

  • Quality is good; some bruising, white shoulders, and light mildew are being reported
  • Size is currently 25 to 27 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 49 to 54 per 4/2-pound pack (small to small-medium)
  • Harvesting is expected to continue until the end of October
  • Expect steady prices

Tomatoes

Hurricane Helene has impacted the Tennessee and Carolina tomato crops, tightening overall supplies. Demand will shift to the West Coast and Mexico this week as Eastern growers recover from the storm. Markon First Crop (MFC) Tomatoes are available.

East Coast

  • Southeast growing regions were impacted by Hurricane Helene
    • Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina, North Georgia, and Western South Carolina had over 14 inches of rain and major flooding in the fields resulting in major crop damage
    • South Georgia and Florida received heavy rains and wind; however, the fields fared well and are in good shape for the fall tomato crop
  • Some harvesting delays are occurring as fields are draining and drying up
  • Markets are anticipated to increase over the next week as Eastern Coast fields recover from the storm

California

  • Growers in the San Joaquin Valley are harvesting their last Roma fields; volume is average
    • Quality is average due to previous heatwaves
    • Round tomatoes are a bit tighter
  • The Hollister season is finishing up this week
  • Los Banos fields will ship stocks over the next two weeks

Mexico

  • Central/Eastern Mexican round and Roma growers are seeing a wide range of quality and price levels due to previously poor weather
  • The Baja region (crossing in Otay Mesa, California) will produce sufficient volume through October, weather permitting
  • Grape and cherry tomato yields are steady; quality is average

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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