News and Stories

Bell Peppers
Red Bells

• Mexican supplies are very tight due to strong demand; cooler evening weather has also hindered growth
• California’s Coachella Valley season is expected to start week of May 17
• The East Coast produces fewer red and yellow bell peppers than California; growers will be transitioning from Florida to Georgia in late May
• Expect high prices over the next two to three weeks
• Quality is good

Green Bells

• Mexico has adequate inventory; growers are seeing a wide range in quality
• California has ample supplies and is set to take over the bulk of western demand next week
• Florida volume has increased with Plant City’s new crops coming onboard; the Georgia season will get underway in mid-May
• Expect steady to slightly higher prices over the next two to three weeks
• Quality is very good

California Orange Transition
Navels

• California Navels are expected to ship through the week of May 24
• Small sizes will be tight through the balance of the season
• Valencias may need to be substituted to cover small sizes over the next two weeks
• Sugar levels range from 12 to 14 Brix

Valencias

• California’s Valencia harvest has begun; supplies will ramp up over the next three weeks
• Current stocks are dominated by large (72- and 88-count) sizes
• Sugar levels range from 12 to 13 Brix  

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

• Offshore arrivals to the U.S. will end in two to three weeks; Mexican imports are on the market and will be shipped as needed during this transition
• The domestic cantaloupe season will kick off Wednesday, May 12
• The domestic honeydew season will begin 7 to 10 days later, approximately May 22
• Expect Markon First Crop (MFC) Cantaloupe and Honeydew to begin shipping the week of May 17 and 24, respectively

Cauliflower

• Warm weather continues to promote growth in the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria growing regions
  • Yields are increasing
  • Quality is excellent: color is snowy white
• Expect markets to fall and availability to improve through the weekend     

Grapes

• Chilean-grown Lunch Bunch Grapes will be available through the end of May; Mexican-grown stocks are anticipated to start shipping the week of June 1
• Mexican-grown green seedless supplies are expected to begin shipping the week of May 17; red seedless stocks will start shipping the week of May 26
• Prices will ease once Mexican volume ramps up in early June     

Idaho Potatoes
Storage Crop

• 40- and 50-count sizes are the most limited
• Suppliers need several days to generate sufficient supplies for large-size potato orders
• 40- to 70-count pricing will continue to strengthen through the remainder of the 2020/2021 season
• Norkotahs will be depleted by the end of next week
• Once Norkotahs are gone, the Burbank variety will be shipped until new crop, field-run Norkotahs become available in August
• Storage potato quality remains good, however pressure bruising and hollow heart are issues that will persist on occasion
  • 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

Limes

• Overall volume will remain low through May, especially 110 and 150-count sizes
• 175-count and smaller sizes are seeing better availability due to lower demand following Cinco De May and the Mother’s Day pull
• Expect prices to continue easing over the next 30 days; however, overall markets will remain above seasonal norms through May
• Quality is very good: cosmetic issues are minimal, resulting in few No. 2 grade supplies on the market

Onions

Idaho, Oregon, and Washington

• The last day of shipping MFC Red and Yellow Onions out of the Idaho/Oregon area will be Friday, May 7
• Washington MFC Onions will be available through the week of 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

Texas

• The South Texas MFC Onion season will end next week

California

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

New Mexico

• MFC Red and Yellow Onions will become available for shipment the first week of June

Tomatoes
Round

• Florida’s improved weather has increased production
  • Harvesting is focused in the Ruskin/Palmetto area
  • All sizes are available; recent rain has increased grading/culling measures, but final packs are of good quality
• Vine ripe production is slowing down in the western parts of Mexico; the season will end in early to mid-June
• Expect volume to increase in the eastern areas of Mexico as late spring harvesting gets underway
• California’s Imperial Valley season is expected to start May 10
  • Growers will transition to the Central Valley in mid-June
  • Quality is good: no major issues are being reported
• Prices are expected to rise

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
 
©2021 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved