News and Stories

Chilean grape production is beginning to increase after a late start, reduced vessel arrivals, and rain in a major growing region back in late January; prices have eased significantly. Norkotah potato stocks will start to diminish in late March; the Burbank variety will be shipped until new crop, field-run Norkotahs become available in September. Supplies are adequate and prices are steady. Rain in the Santa Maria, California growing region has limited strawberry supplies, impacted quality, and increased prices; Oxnard, California received less rain, keeping volume level. 

Grapes

• Sufficient supplies of green and red seedless grapes are on the market
• Prices have eased significantly
• Suppliers are working through this fruit quickly due to shortened shelf-life and quality concerns caused by the rain
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Grapes are available in 21-pound portion packs; packer label supplies will be substituted as needed
• New crop Mexican stocks will be on the market in mid-May

Idaho Potatoes

• Idaho Burbank and Norkotah storage supplies are adequate
• Prices will remain relatively steady, with slight fluctuations, through the end of the 2015-2016 season (June-July)
• Storage crop stocks may have pressure bruising (soft indentations) as a result of pressure at points of contact with adjacent potatoes or the floor while potatoes sit in storage sheds
• Norkotah volume will start to diminish in late March and continue until depleted in early May; at that stage, the Burbank variety will be shipped until new crop, field-run Norkotahs become available

Onions

• Supply is meeting demand
• The Northwest onion season in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington will run through April
• The Texas onion crop will start in early April; production will begin in California by late April
• Storage supplies of Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington will diminish through the month of April
• Expect steady prices over the next several weeks

Strawberries

• Stocks are limited in the Santa Maria, California growing region; supplies are sufficient in Oxnard, California
• Southern California prices have increased slightly; Florida is steady to slightly higher than last week
• MFC Strawberries are not available; Markon Best Available and packer label supplies in one-pound clamshells are being substituted due to rain in Southern California
• Expect rain-related quality issues such as bleeding, bruising, decay, rain/water damage, and wind scarring
• Florida supplies will remain on the market through Easter

Tomatoes

• Rain has temporarily stalled production in the southwestern growing regions of Mexico, reducing supplies being transferred into Arizona and South Texas
• Prices are climbing in all areas as demand shifts to Florida
• Expect the market to remain elevated through March

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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