News and Stories

Bell Peppers
Green Bells

• Prices are up significantly in California’s San Joaquin Valley due to increased demand from the Midwest
• East Coast production is currently focused in North Carolina and New Jersey; regional/local deals are also starting up in Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and Michigan
• North Central Mexico is producing good quality bell peppers (crossing into South Texas)
• The market will remain elevated over the next week

Red Bells

• San Joaquin Valley production is underway
• The East Coast has a very limited supply of colored bell peppers
• East and West Canadian greenhouse volume is high
• The market is expected to remain steady over the next two weeks

California Strawberries

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available out the Salinas/Watsonville region
  • This region is North America’s primary growing area for strawberries right now
  • Plants are past their peak; supplies will continue to diminish until the fall Santa Maria crop begins in mid- to late August
• Size is down slightly due to recent warm weather; quality is good
• Demand remains strong

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

• The Westside of California’s San Joaquin Valley is the primary growing region now through October
  • Quality ranges from very good to excellent
  • Sugar levels vary from 11 to 13 Brix for cantaloupe and 10 to 12 Brix for honeydew
  • The crop is dominated by jumbo and large sizes with very few medium and small sizes available
• Honeydew markets are higher than normal this season due to limited plantings, while cantaloupe prices are expected to continue easing

Cilantro

• Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Cilantro is available
• Yields are down following recent high temperatures in Oxnard, Salinas, and Santa Maria, California; burn, disease pressure, seeder, and yellowing are reducing harvestable yields at the field level
• RSS Cilantro is currently achieving specified quality and shelf-life, but there is potential for early breakdown due to heat-related stress  
• Expected high markets through July, at minimum, until younger plantings reach harvest maturity

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available
• Demand is down slightly this week after strong movement last week; however, order volume continues to trend above recent weeks
• Supplies in Salinas and Santa Maria, California are sufficiently meeting current demand
• Quality is very good: fringe burn, internal burn, and uneven weights are present in some lots
• Regional East Coast lettuce crops may be damaged by Tropical Storm Elsa as heavy rains and sustained winds exceeding 40 MPH with gusts up to 65 MPH are forecast
• Prices are expected to remain steady in the coming weeks, pending any significant East Coast lettuce crop loss

Imported Oranges

• Fruit is currently coming into the East Coast from Chile and South Africa and into the West Coast from Chile
  • 113-count and larger pack sizes dominate availability
  • Import palletization:
    • 80 cases per pallet
    • Box weight is 33 pounds
  • Domestic palletization:
    • 54 cases per pallet
    • Box weight is 40 pounds
  • Quality is very good: fancy grade fruit is most plentiful

Imported Lemons

• Supplies are arriving from Argentina (East Coast), Chile (East and West) and Mexico (Texas)
  • Palletization:
    • 72 cases per pallet
    • Box weight is 40 pounds (comparable quantity to domestic cartons)
  • Quality is very good
• Size is dominated by 140-count and larger fruit; smaller sizes (200- to 235-count lemons) are tight
• Mexican lemons have begun crossing into South Texas in a very limited way
  • Size is peaking on 140- and 165-count fruit
  • Mexico palletization:
    • 54 cases per pallet
    • Box weight is 40 pounds

Tomatoes

• California round and Roma tomato volume is expected to increase
  • Round tomatoes are dominated by small sizes (6x6 and 6x7); large sizes are limited (4x4 and 4x5)
  • Roma stocks are peaking on jumbo and extra-large sizes
  • Quality is good
• East Coast round, Roma and grape tomatoes are limited
  • Virginia is in light production
  • New crop harvesting will start in North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee this week   
  • Round tomatoes are on the large side (4x4 and 4x5)
  • Quality is very good
• Mexican vine ripe, Roma and cherry tomato production is moderate; grape tomatoes are snug
  • Baja Roma and grape tomato crops are transitioning to new fields; some quality issues are present
  • Vine ripe and Roma supplies are increasing in Jalisco and San Luis Potosi; large sizes are most abundant
  • Overall quality is good

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
 
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