News and Stories

Avocados:

• Mexican avocado growers are not harvesting at this time
• Supplies continue to be held back from the U.S. market
• Forward pricing is unavailable; open-market orders are being priced on the day of shipment to secure product
• Next week, most suppliers are expected to be completely sold out

Bell Peppers:

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available in California; MFC Green Bell Peppers are available in Georgia
• Green bell peppers are ample on both coasts; quality is excellent
• Red bell pepper supplies will wind down in Oxnard, California by late October; prices will rise over the next two to three weeks
• Yellow bell peppers are extremely limited; markets will spike over the next week as availability becomes scarce

Rain in the Salinas Valley:

• Rain is forecast for Friday, October 14 through Sunday, October 16; expect harvesting and loading delays
• This weekend’s rain will be followed by a heat spike next week; quality and shelf-life will be affected
• Quality issues will include (but not be limited to): bottom rot, mildew pressure, pre-mature pinking, and shortened shelf-life
• Packer label lettuce will begin shipping out of Huron, California next week

Salinas Valley Prices:

• Expect higher prices
• A combination of strong demand and a storm system in the Salinas Valley will push up commodity prices next week
• Heat-related quality problems are reducing yields, while cool weather and overcast skies are slowing growth
• Overall iceberg and leafy green yields are high, but next week’s rain will reduce volume and impact quality
• Iceberg harvesting will begin in Huron next week and run for three to four weeks

Strawberries:

• Availability, quality, and pricing will be impacted due to the rain forecast for the Salinas/Watsonville region
• The poor weather may cause an end to the season
• Markon recommends transitioning orders south to Santa Maria, California
• MFC Strawberries are limited in Salinas/Watsonville; Markon Best Available is being substituted as needed
• Prices are low, but will increase (pending total rainfall)

Tomatoes:

• California’s mature green tomato season will wind down over the next three weeks
• Harvesting will start in Florida next week
• Hurricane Matthew had very little impact on early fall production, however heavy rains have reduced early crop yields
• Stocks will remain limited until the season in Culiacan, Mexico starts in late December
• Fall cherry, grape, Roma, and vine ripe tomato production will begin in Baja, Mexico in the next two weeks
• Expect prices to continue increasing through October

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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