News and Stories

Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are not available. Supplies were rained out in all California growing regions this past weekend; availability will remain extremely limited for the first half of the week. Very few stocks are being harvested for the fresh market; berries are being sold in local California markets only due to decay and shortened shelf-life.

Salinas/Watsonville, California

• High temperatures followed by heavy rain have brought the season to an end
• Growers are already turning over ground for the next season’s crop

Santa Maria, California

• MFC Strawberries are not available
• The region has received between 0.75” and 1.25” of rain since Friday, October 28
• Fruit quality has been significantly impacted
• Major issues include decay, softness, and water damage (click here to view the rain damaged strawberries; click here for decay and mold photos)
• Overall quality is fair at best
• Harvesting is very limited today; most growers are culling rain-damaged fruit through tomorrow (click here to view a photo of culled berries)
• The few berries that are being harvested will be kept in local markets due to the quality issues mentioned above and shortened shelf-life
• Production is expected to resume in a light way by Wednesday, November 2; most rain-damaged fruit should be cleaned up by Thursday, November 3

Oxnard, California 

• The region received less rain than Santa Maria; however, overall production and yields are down
• Rain-related quality issues will be culled over the next several days; quality is fair
• Supplies of packer label strawberries will be extremely tight for the next few weeks; demand exceeds supply
• MFC Strawberries should be available by late December/early January when new crop spring production begins

Mexico

• Harvesting is beginning to ramp up in Central Mexico as West Coast supplies have been rained out; prices are rising
• Shipments into South Texas are sporadic, but crossings will increase by the weekend
• Size is dominated by small to medium berries at the start of the season (approximately 26 to 31 berries per one-pound clamshell)
• Most grower-shippers are only offering 8/1-pound pack size (108 cases per pallet)
• A limited supply of Markon Best Available Strawberries (loading in South Texas) is forecast to be available by mid-November

Florida

• The Florida season typically starts in mid- to late November
• A few growers have started production of their mud crop; volume is very low
• Most growers will not begin harvesting adequate supplies for several more weeks
• No major hurricane damage has been reported

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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