News and Stories

Bell Peppers

• Green bell harvesting has been underway in California’s San Joaquin Valley for several weeks; supplies are ample
• Red and yellow production is ramping up in the San Joaquin Valley this week; stocks are limited, but expect good availability and lower prices by this weekend
• The North Carolina green bell season is going strong; this region produces very few red and yellow bell peppers
• Michigan harvesting is delayed due to cool temperatures and wet weather earlier in the season; production is forecast to start the week of July 29

Cilantro

• Ready-Set-Serve Washed & Trimmed Cilantro supplies will become increasingly limited as weather conditions cause quality and shelf-life challenges
• Warmer-than-normal temperatures in California’s Salinas Valley growing region are causing leaves to turn yellow/brown and promoting the growth of seeders
• Abnormally high humidity is forecast for California’s Ventura County over the next four to seven days, which will increase the similar quality concerns

Lemons

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Lemons are available in California
• The Southern California Coastal region is the main growing region
  • Quality is fairly good
  • Shelf-life is shorter at this time of the year due to warm, coastal growing conditions
• New crop Mexican lemons are now available in limited quantities (into California and South Texas); MFC Lemons will start shipping in early August

Limes

• MFC and ESS Limes are available
• Elevated temperatures and wet weather in the primary growing regions of Mexico are causing quality issues and shortening shelf-life
• Supply will meet demand over the next few weeks, but quality fruit will command higher prices

Onions

• MFC Onions remain available in California and New Mexico
• Limited supplies of new crop onions will be available in Washington the week of July 29
• Idaho-grown onions will become available the week of August 5  
• The Utah season is forecast to start August 19

Potatoes

• MFC Idaho Burbank Potatoes will be available through August 9
• Several sheds will send their last shipments of storage crop stocks this week, putting a strain on the already limited supply
• 80- to 100-count sizes are abundant in both new crop Norkotahs and Burbanks
• New crop Norkotah harvesting and packing will begin in a limited manner on August 7; most Idaho sheds will fully transition to new crop Norkotahs the week of August 12
• New crop Burbank production will start in late September/early October

Romaine

• Production out of regional growing areas (Colorado, Eastern Canada, and the Northeastern U.S.) will finally increase by early next week
• Slightly higher yields are forecast in all growing areas over the next month
• Expect prices to ease into next week

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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