News and Stories

Markon inspectors are currently observing an increase in quality issues in romaine lettuce out of California’s Salinas Valley. A cycle of heat spikes followed by humid, overcast mornings over the past few weeks is stressing the product and causing internal burn and fog burn in commodity and value-added products. Accelerated growth has also caused higher respiration rates. Iceberg and green leaf have also been exhibiting some defects, but romaine has been more impacted.

Weather has been more stable this week, but we may continue to see sporadic issues throughout next week, August 9-13 or possibly longer. Markon suppliers are committed to securing the best product for Markon orders and taking additional steps to minimize defects, but some cannot be eliminated completely. Ordering for quick turns is recommended and maintaining the cold chain is critical for maximizing quality and shelf life potential.

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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