News and Stories

Onions

• New crop harvesting will be complete by the end of this week  
• Onions will start shipping exclusively out of storage the week of October 19
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Red and Yellow Onion quality is excellent
  • Supplies possess solid, globe-like shape and firm texture
    • Yellow onions have golden, cured skins
    • Red onion skin is setting nicely with a few paper layers
• Packer label onions are also being shipped out of Colorado and Utah      

Potatoes

• Over the past several years, Idaho Norkotah performance has improved and is now comparable to the Burbank variety, exhibiting higher solid content and less moisture
• Many growers favor Norkotahs, as they have a shorter growing cycle and exhibit higher yields, stronger quality, and larger size profile than the Burbank variety
• Burbanks will continue to be a valued commodity, but will be used more for late-season shipments due to their stronger storage capacity/shelf-life; plantings are expected to decline over the upcoming years
• Burbank availability will be limited through February 2021; volume will increase during the spring months
• Suppliers planted 10% to 15% fewer Burbank acres this season 

Strawberries

• MFC Strawberries are available in both standard plastic and our new sustainable cardboard packaging
• Abnormally high temperatures will cause quality concerns such as soft fruit, bruising, decay, and reduced size
• Harvesting crews are culling as much overripe, soft, and odd-shaped fruit as possible   
• High heat is deepening strawberry color before berries are fully grown, resulting in smaller size
• Cold-chain management remains a vital component of maximizing shelf-life

Tomatoes

• California supplies are tight in the San Joaquin Valley; the season typically runs through late October
  • No. 1 Roma harvesting has ended for the season; a few growers are packing No. 2 grade fruit, as quality is below normal
  • Round tomato production will finish in approximately two more weeks; volume is very low
• The Alabama and Tennessee seasons are winding down due to rain and cool weather
• The Florida season will begin over the next week; significant volume is not forecast until the first week of November
  • Growers in Quincy, Florida will ramp up in late October; Hurricane Sally and Hurricane Delta brought rain to Northern Florida, slowing the start of the season
  • The Palmetto harvest will start in late October; however, sufficient volume is not expected until November 1
• Fall production has begun in Central Mexico and Baja California

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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