News and Stories

Asparagus:

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is sporadic, but will start to increase over the next few weeks
• Mexican supplies are extremely limited; growers are moving production from the Baja peninsula to mainland regions
• Demand is strong; Peruvian stocks are meeting demand, but prices are escalating
• Expect an elevated market until overall volume increases in early January

Bell Peppers:

• Domestic green bell pepper supplies are sufficient in Southern Florida and Mexico
• Red bell pepper stocks are extremely limited
• The fall season is ending in California
• Mexican supplies are ramping up slowly
• MFC Green Bell Peppers are available in Florida and Mexico (into Arizona and Texas)
• MFC Red Bell Peppers are available from Mexico (into Arizona)
• Quality is very good in all regions
• Rising demand will push both markets higher over the next few weeks

Cold Weather Forecast For Northwest:

• Cold weather is forecast in Idaho from December 17 through the end of the month
• Low temperatures are expected in Eastern Idaho which could affect the number of potatoes packed and delay loading times 
• Temperatures need to be 18 degrees or warmer for five to seven hours of the day to haul potatoes from cellars to packing sheds
• If low temperatures persist for more than a few days, packing hours will be reduced (for example, from eight to four hours)

Limes:

• MFC Limes are available from Mexico (loading in McAllen, Texas)
• Increased demand and limited labor due to the holiday season will impact prices and supply levels through the end of the month
• Quality is excellent, but as supplies diminish, fruit will require more sorting for issues such as discoloration and scarring
• Expect the market to rise over the next two weeks, returning to low levels by early January

Strawberries:

• MFC Strawberries are not available; packer label and Markon Best Available are being substituted as needed
• Overall supplies are increasing in Florida and Mexico (into South Texas), but West Coast volume remains extremely limited
• The Oxnard and Santa Maria, California growing regions are expecting up to an inch of rain; the poor weather will end the Santa Maria fall season
• Markon recommends moving as many orders to Florida and Mexico for best coverage through December and early January

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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