News and Stories

Salinas Valley commodity prices will be active this week as an extended period of cool weather has slowed growth and limited supplies. Abnormally warm weather in the winter and early spring months pushed harvesting ahead of schedule and although growers have made some progress in combating supply gaps, early May’s lower temperatures have prolonged availability challenges.

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• As much as .75 inches of rain are expected Wednesday and Thursday of this week
• Growers are packing ahead as much as possible
• The harvesting windows for Thursday and Friday will be cut short
• The iceberg market has leveled out
• Mother’s Day demand has ended
• Rain could diminish stocks and push up prices by early next week
• Insect pressure in romaine and other lettuces has been becoming a more significant problem over the past week
• Damage is present in all areas of the Salinas Valley
• Quality issues could reduce yields and cause active markets over the next two weeks
• Green leaf will remain in a demand-exceeds-supply situation while growers start harvesting new fields as much as 10 to 14 days ahead of schedule
• Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Green Leaf items will remain at second-tier trigger levels through next Tuesday

Broccoli and Cauliflower

• Broccoli prices will increase through this week
• Production has slowed due to cool temperatures
• Mexican supplies (into South Texas) are limited
• Harvesting is in its seasonal decline
• Demand will move to Salinas and Santa Maria, California
• Cauliflower stocks remain very limited throughout the industry
• Small sizes dominate supplies
• California production is unable to keep pace with demand
• Prices are expected to remain elevated for two to three weeks
• RSS Cauliflower items are expected to reach second-tier trigger levels by Monday, May 18

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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