News and Stories

FROM THE FIELDS: Quality Outlook in Arizona/California Desert Region

November 06, 2015

Markon First Crop Premium Iceberg Lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region is unavailable; Markon Best Available will be substituted as needed.

 

From mid-October through early November, temperatures in the Arizona/California desert growing region reached highs into the low 100s. As a result, the first scheduled iceberg lettuce fields developed the following defects:

  • Growth cracking
  • Internal burn
  • Long core/seeder
  • Protruding ribs

Weather has been more favorable over the last several days, which is expected to help improve quality, sizing, and yields by the middle of next week.

 

A very limited number of grower/shippers have already begun harvesting romaine and green leaf in Yuma, Arizona. On Monday, November 9, additional shippers are expected to begin harvesting in Yuma as well as the California’s Imperial Valley. Preliminary inspections show nice size and quality with a small percentage of long core/seeder in romaine supplies and only some odd-sized and slightly ribby heads in green leaf.

 

Markon inspectors will be reviewing more fields in the coming days and will report back with further quality updates.

 

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

 

Blake Anderson

Quality Assurance

markon.com

 

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