News and Stories

Asparagus

• Production has ended in Caborca, Mexico; harvesting is steadily increasing in Central Mexico
• Peruvian volume is rising as expected at this time of year; these extra supplies will help stabilize the market but will not be sufficient to hold prices steady
• Quality is excellent: spears are straight with firm tips and grassy flavor
• Expect higher prices through early May as demand is increasing for Mother’s Day; markets will stabilize following the holiday and decrease by mid- to late May as production continues to ramp up

Green Beans

• Supplies are below normal in Southern Florida
• Mexican stocks are decreasing as that season winds down
• Production has been delayed in Northern Florida and Georgia due to cold weather
• Expect volume to rise in mid-May as Texas and Georgia production increases
• Price escalators may go into effect Friday, April 30

Grapes
Green Grapes

• January’s heavy rains in parts of Chile reduced supplies and diminished quality
• Current quality concerns include: split skins, decay, and discoloration
• Chilean greens will be on the market until the second week of May
• Mexican green grapes will begin shipping by mid-May

Red Grapes

• Chilean red grape stocks are adequate
• Prices have begun to inch up as quality is diminishing
• Current quality concerns include: split skins and softness
• Chilean reds will be on the market until late May
• Mexican red grapes will begin shipping at the end of May

Idaho Potatoes

• Once Norkotah stocks are depleted, the Burbank variety will be shipped until new crop, field-run Norkotahs become available mid- to late August
• Small-size potatoes (80- to 100-count stocks) dominate remaining Norkotah and Burbank supplies; 40- to 70-count sizes) are tightening
• 40-to 70-count pricing will continue to climb through the rest of the 2020/2021 season
• Quality is good: pressure bruising and hollow heart are sporadic issues in both varieties
  • Raw storage crop quality will weaken as the season progresses
  • Sheds will need to run more raw product to pack the same number of cartons, reducing available supplies
• There are no anticipated gaps in the Burbank storage crop supply before new crop Norkotahs start shipping

Limes

• Overall volume will remain low through May
• 110- and 150-count sizes are extremely scarce; very few suppliers are quoting prices
  • Demand has shifted to 175- and 200-count sizes which have slightly better availability
  • Slight relief is expected for 175-count and smaller sizes next week
• Quality is very good: cosmetic issues are minimal, resulting in fewer No. 2 grade supplies on the market

Mixed Berries
Blueberries

• Prices will remain elevated until production in Georgia, Southern California, and Florida ramps up in early May  
• The Chilean season is finished
• Central Mexico production is past its peak; stocks continue to diminish
• New crop harvesting is expected to start in Georgia and Southern California by the end of this month
• Florida is getting started in a limited way; production was delayed due to unfavorable weather

Raspberries

• Pricing will remain active due to tight supplies and reduced harvesting
• The previous cool weather has hindered harvesting and tightened supplies in Central Mexico, Baja, and Oxnard; stocks were expected to increase, but plants are producing fewer berries due to reduced maturity  
• Supplies will remain tight through late May, at which point crops are expected to ramp up in Central Mexico, Baja, and Northern California

Blackberries

• Supplies are slowly increasing as the industry enters peak season; markets will gradually decline over the next 7 to 10 days
• Central Mexico is the primary growing region; plants are producing as planned

Onions
Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Red and Yellow Onions from Idaho and Oregon will ship through May 7
• Washington MFC Onions will be available through late May
• White onions will be extremely sporadic as the season concludes
• Expect diminishing quality in remaining storage shipments
  • Onions will have golden, cured skins, but may be softer than early and mid-season stocks
  • Problems may include occasional internal decay, mold, and multiple centers/hearts

California

• MFC Red and Yellow Onions will be shipped out of the Imperial Valley through early June   
• California fresh-run onions have feathery skins and light-colored exteriors compared to Northwest storage onions

Texas

• Supplies are expected to be available through the week of May 10
• Texas onions also have feathery skins and light color

Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Cauliflower

• Cool weather has slowed growth in the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria growing regions
  • Yields are much lower than normal
  • Quality is excellent: color is snowy white
• Supplies are extremely limited out of all growing regions; demand exceeds supply
• Expect markets to ease and availability to improve in 7 to 10 days as favorable weather is in the forecast

Stone Fruit
Apricots

• Supplies are limited, but increasing daily
• Size is dominated by small fruit (volume-filled 12- and 14-count packs); larger sizes will be available by the end of next week
• Quality is good: sugar levels range between 12 and 16 Brix (sweetness/flavor will peak in mid-May)

Peaches/Nectarines

• Fruit will become available the week of May 25
• The season will run from June through mid-September
• The Georgia peach season will begin in mid-May and continue through August
• Good quality is forecast: sugar levels typically range from 10 to 12 Brix

Plums

• Fruit will begin shipping the week of June 15
• The season will run from mid-June to mid-October
• Expect good quality: sugar levels typically range from 12 to 14 Brix

Cherries

• Limited supplies of cherries are available out of California’s Central Valley; volume will ramp up next week
• The California season will run through early July
• Washington cherries will be available in June and ship through August

Squash

• Mexico’s Sonora region is experiencing below-normal evening temperatures that are slowing squash growth; supplies are tight
• Harvesting is just getting started in Baja, Mexico; more consistent stocks are expected over the next few weeks
• Florida volume is rising
  • More growers have started harvesting in Plant City
  • Recent rain is diminishing quality
• The Georgia season has begun; supplies will become more plentiful in two to three weeks
• California production will begin in Santa Maria and the San Joaquin Valley by mid-May
• The Mexican season will wind down in late May/early June

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
 
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