News and Stories

California’s Salinas Valley expects to receive .50 to 1.00 inches of rainfall this Friday with intermittent showers over the weekend; expect harvesting and loading delays. Markon will pack orders ahead in anticipation of the rain to avoid any harvest cancelations. Overall yields have been very good, but the coming rain followed by a heat spike next week will likely reduce lettuce and leafy green supplies and have a significant impact on quality and shelf-life.

As a general reminder, rain can cause quality and supply issues. Some of these problems include, but are not limited to:

• Bottom rot in lettuce crops
• Mildew pressure
• Pre-mature pinking in commodity and value-added lettuce items
• Shortened shelf-life in all row crop items

The first cut of lettuce (packer label) out of Huron, California will start next week. Rain is currently not expected and growing conditions are good. Most Markon First Crop (MFC) iceberg lettuce will be transferred from Huron to Salinas the week of October 24, 2016.

Markon inspectors are working with suppliers to select the best lots available for Markon orders. Please remember that maintaining the cold chain is critical to maximizing the quality and shelf-life of commodity and value-added produce items.

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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