News and Stories

The first significant rain event of the 2016 Salinas/Watsonville, California strawberry season is forecast for this weekend. Approximately one inch of rainfall is expected to fall between Friday morning, October 14 and Sunday evening, October 16. Availability, quality, and pricing will be impacted; the rain may bring the Salinas/Watsonville season to an end, pending rainfall totals. Markon recommends transitioning orders south to Santa Maria, California for the week of October 17. This area is forecast to receive trace amounts of rain Sunday, October 16, which should not affect supply levels.

Salinas/Watsonville, California

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are limited; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed
• Current prices are low; stocks are ample and quality is good, but the market is expected to increase following this weekend’s rain
• Typical for this time of year, yields are decreasing (approximately 15-30%) as plants near the end of their growing cycle
• Significant rainfall, similar to what’s being forecast, is expected to further reduce volume and quality, possibly bringing an end to the season
• Orders will be packed ahead this week in anticipation of limited harvesting on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15
• Markon recommends moving orders south to Santa Maria the week of October 17 for better availability and quality

Santa Maria, California

• MFC Strawberries are limited; MBA is being substituted as needed
• Minimal rainfall is forecast for this weekend; supplies are ample
• Recent warm temperatures have decreased berry size, but shorter days and cooler nights ahead will help increase size and maintain quality
• Issues such as occasional bruising, creasing, odd-shape, and white shoulder are being reported
• The market is low (comparable to Salinas/Watsonville) but is expected to increase next week when demand shifts to this region
• Orders can be consolidated to Misionero in Gonzales, California or 4Earth Farms in Los Angeles, California for loading

Oxnard, California 

• Limited quantities of new crop fall strawberries are available in packer label
• MFC Strawberries should be available in late December/early January when new crop spring harvesting starts
• Current supplies are light out of this region compared to Salinas/Watsonville and Santa Maria, but yields are ramping up
• Prices are slightly higher than those in Salinas/Watsonville and Santa Maria

Mexico

• Very limited harvesting has begun in Central Mexico; weekly volume is increasing
• Supplies (loading in South Texas) remain sporadic, but should reach adequate levels by early November
• MFC Strawberries (loading in South Texas) are expected to be available in mid-November

Florida

• The Florida season is expected to start in late November
• No major damage to the upcoming crop has been reported as a result of Hurricane Matthew

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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