News and Stories

Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, and Squashes

East Coast

• Cucumber and squash production will transition from Georgia to Florida by early November
• Bell pepper harvesting will begin on Florida’s East Coast by mid-November
• Operations along Florida’s West Coast will be delayed due to Hurricane Irma’s impact
• Expect elevated prices and limited East Coast supplies from early November through early December

West Coast

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available in California
• MFC Cucumbers and Squashes are available in Mexico (into Nogales, Arizona)
• Bell pepper production will begin in Mexico by early November; expect prices to climb as East Coast stocks diminish
• Cucumber and squash volume is high in Mexico

Carrots

• Carrot supplies, especially jumbo sizes, will be limited in California’s Kern County growing district for the next six to eight weeks
• Extreme heat has stunted growth and reduced size
• Orders for MFC Jumbo Carrots are being filled; packer label jumbo carrots are available in South Texas (from Mexico) at a lower cost
• Expect higher prices until size and volume stabilize in mid-December

Iceberg Lettuce

• The market is rapidly dropping, but will soon stabilize in the low to mid-20s (through November)
• Supply exceeds demand; Harvesting is underway in Huron, California (the San Joaquin Valley), increasing overall volume
• MFC Premium Iceberg remains sporadic; Markon Best Available will be substituted when weights don’t meet MFC specifications

Grapes

Green & Red Seedless

• Markon Essentials (ESS) Red Seedless Grapes are available from California
• Green and red seedless supplies are ample
• Both markets will begin to rise in early November when California growers begin shipping from storage

Lunch Bunch

• MFC Red Lunch Bunch Grapes from California are available
• Packer label green Lunch Bunch stocks will be available until late November
• Prices will start rising in early November when California storage crops begin shipping

Melons

• Prices continue to climb
• MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons will be sporadic through mid-November
• Guatemalan fruit will be available on the East Coast in mid-November and on the West Coast in early December
• MFC Melons are not packed during the offshore harvest, but will be available again in the 2018 spring season

Oranges

• MFC and ESS Oranges are not available
• Demand exceeds supply; prices are elevated
• A few California growers have begun harvesting new crop Navels; availability is extremely low (only a few pallets are being run daily)
• The market will begin easing over the next several weeks; prices for California Navels are lower than those for fruit from Texas and offshore regions

Please contact your Markon customer support representative for more information.

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