News and Stories
FROM THE FIELDS: Value-Added Salad Quality and Shelf-Life
April 21, 2017
Value-added raw product quality in Salinas, California has improved substantially compared to late-season desert supplies. However, most iceberg and leaf lettuce crops currently remain below optimal maturity levels due to processors harvesting fields sooner than projected.
Romaine Based Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Items
- Darker leaves are more susceptible to mechanical damage which will reduce shelf-life
- Recent rains may cause mildew and/or premature pinking to occur
Iceberg Based RSS Items
- Shelf-life is holding; some light premature pinking is expected
Tender Leaf RSS Items
- Arugula, spinach, and spring mix are exhibiting good quality and shelf-life
- Recent rains may cause mildew
Favorable weather is forecast for the coming weeks, which will improve quality. The attached pictures of raw and finished product samples are from a recent cutting of RSS salad items.
Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
John Galvez
Quality Assurance
©2017 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.