News and Stories

Broccoli and Cauliflower

• Stocks are forecast to remain sufficient for several weeks
• A recent run of ideal growing conditions has improved quality and increased size
• Mexican-grown broccoli supplies are available (loading out of South Texas)  
• Demand is moderate; expect weak markets through May

California Strawberries

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available
• Santa Maria stocks remain strong due to good weather; quality is very good
• New crop Salinas/Watsonville volume is slowly increasing at this time; MFC Strawberries are will be available for shipment, beginning May 31
• Oxnard, California production will finish up in the next couple of weeks

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

• Mexican and offshore supplies remain on the market; stocks will continue shipping through May
• Domestic cantaloupe stocks are dominated by 9-count, followed by 12-count sizes; 15-count melons are extremely limited
• The domestic honeydew crop also leans heavily toward large sizes (especially 5-count), with very few 6- or 8-count fruit at the start of the season
• New crop domestic melons are commanding higher prices than Mexican and offshore supplies
  • Cantaloupe prices are up
  • Honeydew markets are rising

Celery

• Production will begin to wind down in Oxnard, California by mid- to late June; West Coast demand will shift to the Salinas Valley when harvesting starts in early to mid-June
• The Michigan season will kick off in early July
• Overall quality is very good: sporadic seeder is present in some lots
• Expect prices to continue inching up through May, though overall market levels will remain low

Limes

• 175-count and smaller sizes are seeing better availability; prices are much lower
• 110- and 150-count sizes remain limited; markets are holding firm for these larger sizes
• Expect prices for all sizes to continue inching down through May

Idaho Potatoes

• 40- and 50-count sizes are the tightest; the majority of remaining Burbank storage potatoes are small
• Expect suppliers to only cover regular, weekly averages of 40- and 50- count sizes   
• Shippers need up to ten working days (in some cases) to generate sufficient volume for 40- and 50-count orders
• 40- to 70-count pricing will continue to strengthen through the rest of the 2020/2021 season
• Storage potato quality remains good, however pressure bruising and hollow heart are issues that will continue to challenge final pack outs
  • Raw storage crop quality will weaken as the season progresses
  • Sheds will need to run more raw product to pack the same number of cartons, reducing available supplies

Onions
California

• MFC Red and Yellow Onions will ship out of the Imperial Valley through early June

New Mexico

• Packer label Mexican onions are on the market    
• A limited quantity of domestic onions will be available at the end of this week
• MFC Red and Yellow Onions will begin shipping next week

Texas

• The South Texas MFC Onion season will conclude this week
• Packer label onions will remain available in Texas into early June; however, quality will be erratic in remaining supplies
• Size will be small in remaining stocks, dominated by medium onions
• Late-season onions were in an early phase of the growing process during the mid-February freeze

Washington

• Washington MFC Onions will be available through May 28
• Expect diminishing 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

Stone Fruit
Apricots

• Supplies are ample
• Size is dominated by large fruit (two-layer tray packs in 72-, 80-, 84-, and 88-count)  
• Quality is very good: sugar levels range from 12 and 16 Brix

Peaches/Nectarines

• Fruit will be available to ship on May 24
• The season will run from June through mid-September
• The Georgia peach season will continue through August
• Sugar levels range from 10 to 12 Brix

Plums

• Supplies will begin shipping the week of June 15
• The season will run from mid-June to mid-October
• Expect very good quality: sugar levels typically range from 12 to 14 Brix

Cherries

• Cherries will be available out of California’s Central Valley through early July
• Washington fruit will hit the market in June and ship through August

Tomatoes
Round

• Florida mature green harvesting is past season peak in the Palmetto/Ruskin area; size and yields are down due to hot weather
• Mexican vine ripe production is transitioning from western regions to Baja and eastern parts of the country
• Growers in California’s Imperial Valley have begun their six-week season with moderate volume; the San Joaquin Valley region is expected to have stronger numbers in June
• Expect prices to remain steady for next two weeks

Roma

• Florida volume will decline in the Palmetto/Ruskin area over the next two weeks; growers in Quincy will produce light supplies during the month of June
• Mexican production is shifting from the western parts of the country to Baja and Eastern Mexico; quality and size are average
• California harvesting is set to begin in the San Joaquin Valley in two weeks; lack of precipitation this year may impact growing conditions and quality
• Prices are expected to remain stable over the short term

Grape

• Florida supplies are adequate; color is deep and quality is good
• Growers in Western Mexico are harvesting this season’s remaining crops, while Baja farms are producing lower volume, yet better quality
• Prices are steady

Cherry

• Warm weather has increased Florida volume and deepened color this week
• The Baja region is producing lower volume, but quality is very good
• Expect prices to remain stable to slightly lower

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
 
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