News and Stories

 

 

Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available out of Coachella, California; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being shipped from Oxnard, California. The cold weather and rain forecast this weekend in California will slow production, but a break in supply is not expected. Prices will rise following this weekend’s weather. Florida strawberries will remain on the market through March. The Mexican season will end in several weeks; supplies are limited.

 

Coachella, California

• MFC Strawberries are available; MBA Strawberries may be packed if needed

• Quality is very good: white shoulders, odd shape, and uneven color are occasional problems

• Counts range from 16 to 18 berries per one-pound clamshell

• From 0.30” to 0.50” of rain is expected for the weekend

o Water damage will be minimal

o Crews will cull fields for damaged berries

• The Coachella season will run through March, pending weather and quality

 

Oxnard, California

• MBA is available for loading out of Oxnard; quality is good

• Counts range from 16 to 19 berries per one-pound clamshell

• White shoulders, odd shape, and green tips are issues

• As much as 0.50” of rain is expected in the region this weekend

o Harvesting crews will cull fields through early next week

o Water damage and light bruising will be concerns

o Packer label 8/1-pound clamshells may be substituted as needed

• The Oxnard berry season is expected to continue through May, pending quality and availability

 

Santa Maria, California

• New crop Santa Maria berries are on the market; quality is very good

• Counts range from 12 to 14 berries per one-pound clamshell

• The season has started earlier than normal due to warmer weather conditions

o Supplies are adequate

o This weekend’s rain will slow production

o Packer label 8/1-pound clamshells are available

 

Salinas/Watsonville, California

• Limited harvesting has begun in Salinas

o Quality is good

o Counts range from 12 to 15 berries per one-pound clamshell

• The Watsonville season is expected to start earlier than normal this year, but exact dates are yet to be determined

 

Florida

• Sufficient supplies are on the market

• A wide range of quality is being reported

• Size is small; counts range from 19 to 21 berries per one-pound clamshell

• Prices are low; some lots are being diverted to the frozen fruit industry

• Product is available for loading out of Plant City

• The season will run through March

 

Mexico

• Adequate supplies remain on the market

• Size is small to medium; counts range from 20 to 24 berries per one-pound clamshell

• Quality is good

• Product is available for loading out of Yuma, Arizona and McAllen, Texas

• The season will continue through March, pending quality and availability

 

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

 

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