News and Stories

California’s Oxnard, Salinas Valley, and Santa Maria areas are expecting temperatures in the 80s and 90s through Thursday. Muggy, humid conditions are forecast on Friday due to subtropical moisture moving up from the south. Expect prolonged quality issues in many commodity and tender leaf items. Prices will rise as a result of quality problems as well as increased school demand. 

Potential issues are as follows:

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• Elevated insect pressure (aphids and leaf miner)
• Fringe burn
• Internal burn
• Large size (iceberg lettuce)
• Long core/seeder
• Mildew pressure
• Shortened shelf-life

Strawberries

• Bleeding/bruising
• Decreased size
• Over-ripe fruit
• Significantly reduced shelf-life
• Soft texture

Value-Added Salads and Tender Leaf Items (Cilantro, Spinach, and Spring Mix)

• Brittle texture (tender leaf)
• Dehydration
• Elevated mechanical damage
• Higher respiration rates
• Internal burn
• Paler-than-normal color due to extra trimming (iceberg-based salads)
• Premature yellowing and small leaves (cilantro)
• Shortened shelf-life

Markon inspectors are monitoring quality very closely and will report any changes. Maintaining the cold chain is critical; ordering for quick turns is recommended.

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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