News and Stories

Storage crop Markon First Crop (MFC) Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious Apples are limited; new crop supplies will be available in early September. The cauliflower market will climb as regional yields decrease and demand shifts to the West Coast. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Lemons are sporadic due to quality issues. Markon recommends ordering one grade higher if possible. West Coast green leaf and romaine stocks are ample. Light ash may be present on outer leaves; additional rinsing is recommended at the end user level. Green onion supplies will tighten over the next three weeks due to high temperatures in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula; medium, large, and jumbo sizes will be extremely limited. Iceberg prices are currently low, but poised to rise once regional harvests end. MFC Premium Iceberg Lettuce is available. Storage crop Burbank potatoes are nearly depleted. New crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes will be available the week of August 22. MFC and ESS Valencia Oranges are sporadic; packer label is being substituted as needed. Quality defects include occasional breakdown, re-greening, and stem aging; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns to minimize these issues.

Apples

• Washington storage MFC Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious Apples are limited, especially small sizes and Fancy/No. 2 grades; new crop stocks will be available in early September
• Sufficient storage supplies of MFC Granny Smith Apples remain available
• New crop MFC Gala Apples are now on the market  

Cauliflower

• Stocks are tightening; yields are low
• Demand will shift to the West Coast as regional harvests wind down
• The market is climbing; prices will reach the low to mid-teens by next week
• ESS Cauliflower is available

California Lemons

• MFC and ESS Lemons are sporadic; packer label is being substituted as needed
• California’s Southern Coast is the primary growing region from June to September
• Lemons grown in California coastal regions are subject to high humidity and strong winds, resulting in more bruising and scarring
• Markon recommends ordering a higher grade if possible (fancy grade for choice and choice grade for standard)

Green Leaf and Romaine

• West Coast supplies are ample; prices are expected to remain low for the next week
• Mildew is a minor issue on outer leaves; heads will be sorted and trimmed for best quality
• Light ash may be present on the outer leaves of some heads due to the Soberanes Wildfire burning north of Big Sur; ash is not considered a food safety hazard, though additional rinsing may be required at the end user level
• MFC Premium Green Leaf and Romaine are sporadic; Markon Best Available will be substituted as necessary

Green Onions

• High temperatures over the past several weeks in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula have pushed production ahead of schedule, causing a supply gap
• Persistent, excessive heat has stunted growth, resulting in smaller, lightweight onions
• Medium, large, and jumbo green onions are extremely limited; small sizes are the most abundant
• Expect tight stocks and elevated markets over the next three weeks

Iceberg

• East Coast regional supplies are currently adequate, but could be reduced by high temperatures and precipitation
• Prices are expected to remain steady for the next week before rising as demand shifts back to the West Coast
• Quality in California is above average with occasional mildew; crews are trimming affected outer leaves
• MFC Premium Iceberg Lettuce is available

Idaho Potatoes

• Idaho Burbank storage supplies are nearly depleted; quality is fair at best
• New crop, fresh-run packer label Norkotahs are the predominant variety on the market
• New crop Norkotahs have not gone through the sweat process yet
• Fresh-run potatoes may release moisture as they cool, causing a very light white surface residue that can be easily brushed off and does not pose any quality problems
• Prices for new crop No. 1 cartons are higher than those for storage crop supplies
• MFC Norkotah Potatoes will be available the week of August 22

California Oranges

• MFC and ESS Valencia Oranges are sporadic; packer label is being substituted as needed
• California’s San Joaquin Valley is the primary growing region year-round
• Sustained, triple-digit temperatures have affected quality and shortened the shelf-life of the current Valencia crop
• Occasional breakdown, re-greening, and stem aging have been reported; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns to minimize these issues

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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