News and Stories

Prices for iceberg lettuce have eased over the last 10 days, but are expected to be elevated next week; carton weights and total yields remain low due to quality issues. The California Valencia orange season is ending; new crop California Navel supplies will be available the week of October 19. Demand exceeds supply in California; offshore and Texas oranges are being substituted as needed. Strawberry prices are rising due to strong demand and tighter overall supplies; quality issues persist.

Iceberg Lettuce

• Quality issues persist, reducing yields and lowering carton weights
• East Coast regional growing seasons are winding down, shifting demand to the West Coast
• Prices have eased, but are expected to be elevated through next week
• Effective September 30, prices for Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) salad items returned to normal levels
• Quality is good, however issues such as seeder and uneven texture are keeping carton weights low
• The market is expected to rise by the second week of October as some growers wrap up in Salinas and transition to Huron, California

Idaho Potatoes

• Large size (40- through 70-count) Idaho Norkotahs continue to dominate the crop; small sizes (90- through 100-count stocks) are scarce
• Limited quantities of new crop, fresh-run Burbank supplies are available; volume will increase through October
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Norkotah Potatoes are available; MFC Burbank Potatoes will begin shipping in late October/early November

Melons

• California’s San Joaquin Valley season will wrap up by mid-October; the Central Arizona season is starting, but supplies are limited
• Melon prices are rising due to seasonal harvesting transitions
• Domestic MFC Cantaloupe is available, but stocks will be sporadic after San Joaquin Valley melons are depleted
• Domestic MFC Honeydew is available, yet supplies will be become sporadic over the coming months
• Stocks will be tight until mid-November (when imported fruit becomes available)

Oranges

• The California Valencia season is ending; remaining stocks will be depleted by next week
• Demand exceeds supply; Texas oranges are being substituted as needed
• Offshore oranges are limited; expect supplies to be available through next week
• Stocks from South Texas are on the market, however they are tight due to last week’s rain
• Prices remain active at high levels
• New crop California Navel harvesting will start the week of October 12; fruit will be available for shipping the week of October 19

Romaine

• Cooler temperatures have increased yields, improving industry supplies and easing market prices
• Fringe burn, insect damage, mildew, seeder (up to three inches), and sunscald are sporadic quality problems
• Internal burn and light core may be present in RSS value-added and washed and trimmed romaine packs
• More plentiful supplies and a wide range in quality will keep romaine pricing stable through early next week

Strawberries

• The market is climbing due to an increase in demand and tighter overall supplies
• Quality issues such as bruising, mildew, overripe berries, and soft texture persist following last week’s high temperatures
• MFC Strawberries are not available in the Salinas/Watsonville growing region; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted
• MFC Strawberries are sporadic in Santa Maria; MBA is being substituted
• Expect prices to continue rising over the next several weeks while crops transition south for the winter months

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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