News and Stories

Markon First Crop (MFC) Lunch Bunch Grapes are available from Chile in 21-pound portion packs; packer label supplies will be substituted as needed. Chilean grapes will be shipped through mid-May; green seedless markets are poised to rise during this time. Rain and fog in Chile will impact the quality of the remaining supplies. Red seedless and Lunch Bunch varieties typically withstand weather and hold up better in storage than green varieties. Expect green seedless prices to climb over the next few weeks as quality issues appear. Red seedless and Lunch Bunch prices are expected to remain fairly stable.

Lunch Bunch

• MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes are available in 21-pound portion packs; packer label supplies will be substituted as needed
• Adequate supplies are expected through the remainder of the Chilean season (mid-May)
• Prices are stable
• Quality is good
• Flavor is sweet: sugar levels range from 19 to 20 Brix
• Packer label Mexican Lunch Bunch supplies will begin shipping in mid-May and continue through mid-July
• Packer label California Lunch Bunch will begin shipping in mid-July; MFC Lunch Bunch stocks should be available by late-July, pending quality

Green Seedless

• Chilean green seedless prices are poised to rise; supplies will tighten from mid-April to mid-May as the season winds down
• Rain and fog in Chile will impact the quality of the remaining Thompson green seedless supplies
• As quality issues begin to appear over the next few weeks, a price separation will occur
• High quality Thompsons will command higher prices
• “Fair Appearance” Thompsons will sell at lower rates
• Markon will continue to source the highest quality green seedless grape available
• Current quality is good; amber coloring is an occasional problem
• Flavor is sweet: sugar levels range from 17 to 18 Brix
• The market will ease when new crop Mexican green seedless supplies hit the market in early May
• Green seedless supplies from Coachella, California will start at the same time

Red Seedless

• Prices are a bit lower this week, but steady overall
• Crimson supplies will remain sufficient through the end of the Chilean season
• Red varieties withstand weather and hold up better in storage compared to green varieties; prices are not expected to jump
• Quality is good
• Flavor is sweet: sugar levels range from 19 to 20 Brix
• New crop Mexican red seedless supplies will begin shipping in early May; the Coachella, California harvest will start around the same time

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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