News and Stories

Freezing temperatures on the West Coast, Idaho, and Mexico have caused loading delays and tightened supplies of various commodities such as green onions, potatoes, and strawberries. Prices are rising. Celery stocks are increasing; the market has eased a bit; effective Tuesday, December 29, Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) triggers decreased to second-tier levels.

Cold Weather Forecast for Eastern Idaho

• Cold weather persists in Eastern Idaho; growers will not be able to haul potatoes from storage sheds to their production facilities for the rest of this week
• Prices will increase as cold temperatures and short run times persist
• Growers do not ship potatoes to packing sheds when temperatures are below 18 degrees because that can cause internal and external bruising as well as black skins and flesh
• Markon expects limited supplies and potential loading delays next week

Green Onions

• Supplies are limited; freezing temperatures have caused harvesting delays, limited production, lowered volume, and impacted quality
• Prices are rising
• Small sizes are the most abundant; medium and large sizes are extremely tight
• Quality problems such as frost damage and yellowing will be present for the next several weeks
• Expect low volume and elevated markets through next week

Grapes

• New crop Chilean supplies are behind their regular seasonal schedule; arrivals on the East Coast have been sporadic
• Chilean volume is 18% below last year’s East Coast arrivals; West Coast shipments are 80% year to date
• Prices are high
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Grapes are not available in 21-pound portion packs; packer label supplies are being substituted
• Expect elevated markets until early February when volume increases

RSS Celery Trigger Levels

• Supplies are increasing; prices have eased slightly
• The Arizona/California desert growing region is now harvesting celery, increasing overall industry stocks 
• Effective Tuesday, December 29, RSS celery items decreased to second-tier trigger prices
• Expect the market to inch down through next week

Strawberries

• Freezing temperatures and heavy rain have officially ended the Santa Maria, California’s 2015 fall growing season; Oxnard and Southern California are now the primary growing regions on the West Coast
• Available supplies are extremely tight due to limited harvesting days and cold weather/rain
• The market is climbing; demand is strong
• MFC Strawberries are not available; limited quantities of Markon Best Available (in one-pound clamshells) and/or packer label are being substituted
• Expect tight supplies and high prices through January

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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