News and Stories

Temperatures in the 80s and 90s are forecast in California’s Oxnard, Salinas Valley, and Santa Maria areas today and tomorrow. Expect prolonged quality issues in many commodity and tender leaf items. Prices for many products will remain elevated due to heat-related problems and reduced yields. 

Potential issues are as follows:

Broccoli, Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• Elevated insect pressure (aphids and leaf miner)
• Fringe burn
• Hollow core
• Large size (iceberg lettuce)
• Ribby texture
• Long core/seeder
• Mildew pressure
• Rib blight/decay
• Shortened shelf-life
• Yellow/brown bead

Strawberries

• Bleeding/bruising
• Decreased size
• Over-ripe fruit
• Significantly reduced shelf-life
• Soft texture

Value-Added Salads and Tender Leaf Items (Cilantro, Spinach, and Spring Mix)

• Brittle texture (tender leaf)
• Dehydration
• Elevated mechanical damage
• Higher respiration rates
• Internal burn
• Paler-than-normal color due to extra trimming (iceberg-based salads)
• Premature yellowing and small leaves (cilantro)
• Shortened shelf-life

Markon inspectors are monitoring quality very closely and will report any changes. Maintaining the cold chain is critical; ordering for quick turns is recommended.

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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