News and Stories

UPDATE SUMMARY: WEEK OF JUNE 17, 2021

Asparagus

• The Washington and Michigan seasons are ending; a limited quantity of California product will remain available through the first week of July
• Production continues to ramp up in Central Mexico, but periodic rain events are limiting harvests and reducing size profile; jumbo and extra-large sizes are scarce
• Peruvian asparagus (shipped into Florida) is supplementing the market, but volume isn’t high enough to hold prices steady
• Quality is very good: spears are straight with firm tips and grassy flavor
• Expect higher prices through early July; markets are anticipated to stabilize following strong Fourth of July holiday demand

California Strawberries

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available out the Salinas/Watsonville region
• Santa Maria
  • Demand is strengthening as abnormally hot weather is decreasing fruit quality
  • Temperatures have been in the 70 to 80 degree range; the forecast calls for abnormally high temperatures through Saturday
  • More strawberries are being sent to processing than to the fresh market due to lower quality
• Salinas/Watsonville
  • This is North America’s primary growing region for strawberries right now
  • Plants are strong, and fruit quality remains very good

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

• The offshore season has ended
• Limited quantities of Mexican honeydew are on the West Coast market
• Athena variety cantaloupes are shipping out of Georgia
• The Arizona/California desert is now the primary growing region; a heat wave will impact the crop this week
  • Excessive temperatures (ranging from 110 to 120 degrees) will reduce volume for the next seven days
  • Growers must limit harvesting hours for the safety of their workers
• The market is poised to rise; overall availability will tighten

Grapes
Green Grapes

• Markon Essentials (ESS) Green Grapes will begin shipping next week  
• The Mexican season is past peak production; demand is strong
• Mexican green grapes will be available through the last week of June
• California green grapes will begin shipping the week of July 5

Red Grapes

• ESS Red Grapes are now available
• Red grape pricing has begun to inch up due to reduced supplies
• Mexican red grapes will be available through the last week of June
• California red grapes will be on the market the week of July 5

Portioned Grapes

• MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes are available
• Portioned packs will be filled with Mexican fruit through the week of July 12
• California portioned grapes will be available the week of July 19

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available; Markon Best Available is being substituted as needed
• Demand continues to strengthen weekly as COVID restrictions are removed; additionally, some buyers are loading as much product as possible prior to the upcoming heatwave in the Salinas Valley
• Current quality is very good; although, growth crack, fringe burn, and internal burn are expected to become more prevalent following sustained elevated temperatures
• Expect higher prices over the next two weeks at minimum

Imported Citrus
Imported Oranges

• Fruit will start arriving from Australia, Chile, and South Africa during the first week of July   
  • 113-count and larger pack sizes dominate availability
  • Import palletization: 80 cases per pallet
  • Domestic palletization: 54 cases per pallet
  • Quality is very good: fancy grade fruit is most plentiful

Imported Lemons

• Supplies are arriving from Argentina and Chile
  • Palletization: 72 cases per pallet
  • Quality is very good: fancy grade fruit is most abundant
• Limited quantities of Mexican lemons will begin crossing into South Texas in early July; 115- and 140-count fruit will dominate availability

Onions
California

• MFC Red and Yellow Onions are shipping out of the San Joaquin Valley  
• The crop favors medium to jumbo sizes; colossal and super colossal stocks are adequate

New Mexico

• MFC Red and Yellow Onions are readily available in New Mexico
• The crop is dominated by medium and jumbo sizes; large supplies are increasing   
• Packer label Mexican onions are also on the market

Washington

• The Washington storage season for MFC Onions will end June 25  
• Expect diminished quality in remaining storage shipments  
  • Onions will have golden, cured skins, but may be softer than early and mid-season stocks
  • Problems may include occasional internal decay, mold, and multiple centers/hearts

Squash

• On the East Coast, the Georgia harvest is slowly finishing
  • North Carolina and New Jersey are the main supply sources at this time
  • Local/regional deals have also started in Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio
• California expects increased volume (especially large sizes) over the next few weeks as very high temperatures prevail
  • Quality is excellent
  • Extreme heat in the 110-115 F range are forecast for this week, which will limit harvesting to early morning hours
• Mexico’s Baja Peninsula is the main growing region; growers are producing a steady supply of good quality squash
• Expect overall markets to remain steady with many regions in production

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
 
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