News and Stories

Avocados

• FOB avocado prices remain elevated and will increase with yet another Tropical Storm in Mexico
• The California and Peruvian seasons will end next week; Chilean fruit will begin arriving next week, but will not make up for low volume
• Most growing regions in Mexico have been facing low maturity levels in the summer crop, creating fruit that cannot be harvested
• Expect high prices and extremely limited supplies through early October

Excessive Heat in California’s Salinas Valley

• Excessive heat is expected in the Salinas Valley through the entire week, creating quality concerns
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are sporadic; Markon Best Available will be substituted as needed
• Markon recommends ordering for quick turns and maintaining the cold chain to maximize quality and shelf-life

Hurricane Harvey

• Hurricane Harvey, downgraded to Tropical Storm, stalled over the Houston area; Harvey will continue tracking northeast through this week
• Mexican shipments are successfully crossing into Texas
• All major interstates in South Texas are open and operational

Idaho White Russet Potatoes

• Storage crop Idaho White Russet potatoes will be available through September 1
• New crop White Russets will be on the market in mid-November
• Very good quality and high yields are forecast
• 2017-2018 White Russet supplies will be available November 13, 2017 through early September 2018

Labor Day Schedule 2017 Reminder

• Markon’s buying office will be closed for Labor Day (Monday, September 4); many processors will adjust loading and production schedules due to the holiday
• Markon’s Gonzales consolidation dock will be open on a limited basis; orders loading on Labor Day (Monday, September 4) will be harvested the previous Friday, September 1 or Saturday, September 2
• Taylor Farms’ loading docks will be open on a limited basis

o    Trucks are urged to call by 8:00 a.m. PDT to schedule appointments

o    Loading is available on Sunday, September 3, on a first come, first served basis

• 4Earth consolidation dock will load trucks on Labor Day (Monday, September 4)

o    The Los Angeles Produce Market will be closed

o    4Earth will not be able to purchase off the market

• Most Northwest shippers’ sales offices and loading docks will be closed Labor Day (Monday, September 4); a few will load by appointment only, but product will not be packed

Strawberries

• Production in the Salinas and Watsonville, California growing regions is winding down; supplies will transition to Santa Maria, California through the end of the month
• New crop supplies are ramping up in Santa Maria; a limited supply of MFC Strawberries are available
• The strawberry market is rising as supplies are becoming less plentiful
• Markon recommends ordering for quick turns and loading FOB (when possible) to help extend shelf-life as the summer crop winds down

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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