News and Stories

The Salinas and Huron, California growing regions will end soon; some suppliers have begun iceberg and leaf lettuce production in Yuma, Arizona. Multiple heat spikes and an unprecedented amount of virus and soil disease issues (see attached photo) have decimated yield and forecast estimates in Salinas, bringing an early end to the season for many shippers. As a result, we will see below-normal case weights in all growing regions.

Salinas

• Markon First Crop/Markon Best Available (MBA) iceberg is not available in Salinas  
• MFC Romaine and Green Leaf are limited; MBA will be substituted as needed
• The overall quality of iceberg and leaf lettuce is good, but virus and soil disease remains an issue, affecting yields and weights
• Case weights for packer label iceberg and leaf lettuce:
• 24-count iceberg weights are in the 32- to 39-pound range
• 24-count  romaine weights are in the 33- to 39-pound range
• 24-count green leaf weights are in the 19- to 39-pound range

Huron

• 100% of Markon commodity iceberg lettuce is being packed in Huron (loading in either Huron or Salinas)
• MFC 24-count Iceberg is limited; MBA is being substituted as needed
• Huron iceberg quality is very good with little or no disease pressure
• 24-count iceberg case weights range from as low as 36-pounds to as high as 48-pounds

Yuma/Desert Region

• A small amount of Markon orders will begin shipping from Yuma starting November 9
• Iceberg, romaine, and green leaf are all showing very good quality with little or no defects—weights will be light
• Case weights for 24-count iceberg range from 33- to 39-pounds, but a few shippers report weights as low as 29- to 32-pounds
• 24-count romaine weights will initially range between 29- to 34-pounds
• 24-count green leaf weights will start between 20- to 21-pounds, although some suppliers are reporting weights below 20-pounds

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
 
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