News and Stories

Cold temperatures in Eastern Idaho, Mexico, and the desert growing regions have resulted in harvesting delays, quality issues, and elevated markets. Commodity items in the desert growing region are most affected by the freezing temperatures.

Onions

• Markon First Crop Onions are readily available out of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
• The market remains steady at low levels
• The domestic crop is dominated by medium and jumbo sizes due to higher-than-normal temperatures during the growing season
• Expect prices to remain at their respective levels through January

Cold Weather in Eastern Idaho

• Temperatures in Eastern Idaho are below zero degrees with highs forecasted for 10 degrees, causing shorter working and production hours for the week
• Growers do not ship potatoes to packing sheds when temperatures are below 18 degrees; doing so can cause internal and external bruising as well as black skins and flesh
• Idaho weather should begin to improve Sunday, January 4 and become more viable for potato production next week

Freezing Temperatures / Rising Prices in the Desert Region

• Temperatures in the desert growing region have dipped into the mid-30s this past week, causing industry-wide harvesting delays and quality issues
• Epidermal blister is already forming on lettuce crops and will continue for the next several weeks
• Iceberg, romaine, green leaf, broccoli, and cauliflower markets are rising sharply
• Cold temperatures are affecting tender leaf items such as spring mix, spinach, and arugula; shortened shelf-life, premature breakdown, and increased pinking will be issues  
• Markets are expected to remain elevated through January

Frost-Damaged Artichokes

• Salinas, Castroville, and Coachella, California have experienced continuous temperatures below 32 degrees; this trend is expected to continue through Friday, January 2
• As a result of the freezing temperatures, the outer layer of artichokes is currently displaying a brown frost-burn coloring, as well as flakiness and peeling
• Frost-burn on artichokes is strictly cosmetic and once cooked, the brown, damaged outer layer peels off, resulting in a dark green artichoke

Cold Weather in Mexico

• Cold weather has reached into parts of Mexico with near-freezing temperatures in the northern growing regions
• No long-lasting effects are expected; production will be slow for the next couple days
• Forecasts call for warmer temperatures over the weekend

California Citrus

• Below-freezing temperatures in California’s San Joaquin Valley over the past few days will slow fruit maturity and increase availability of smaller fruit
• Markets are expected to remain stable
• A warming trend is anticipated this weekend

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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