News and Stories

FROM THE FIELDS: Quality Concerns in Value-Added Salads

June 27, 2017

Markon inspectors have begun seeing an uptick in quality and shelf-life concerns in iceberg- and romaine-based value-added salad items due to California’s recent heat spike. The longer, warmer days have pushed many lettuce crops ahead of their harvesting schedules. Some supplies are exhibiting above-normal density, which is causing chunks in finished packs. Other heat-related issues such as internal burn and premature pinking are also being observed.

Harvesting and processing crews are taking measures such as double-coring iceberg heads in the field and adding inspectors on the processing lines to remove dense material or any remaining pieces of core. Beginning the week of June 26, raw product supplies are forecast to return to normal in terms of density and overall quality.

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

John Galvez

Quality Assurance

markon.com

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