News and Stories

Supplies are plentiful in California and Florida; prices are lower than last week. Most growers in Mexico have finished harvesting for the season. El Niño weather patterns will return to Southern California this weekend with moderate-to-heavy rain in the forecast beginning Saturday, March 5 through Monday, March 7, then returning Thursday, March 10. California supplies are expected to tighten next week, pending rainfall.

Southern California

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available this week; packer label supplies will be substituted as needed
• Quality is very good
• Texture is firm
• Size is medium-plus to large; counts average 12 to 18 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Two- and four-pound clamshells are available
• Supply levels have more than doubled over the last week due to warm, dry weather; prices are much lower this week
• El Niño conditions will return this weekend, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to Southern California
• Oxnard, California expects 1” to 1.50”
• Santa Maria, California expects 1.5” to 2”
• Orders loading Monday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 8 will be packed as early as Friday, March 4; expect two to three fewer days of shelf-life
• Markon recommends ordering extra supplies for trucks loading Friday, March 4 through Monday, March 7
• Next week’s availability will depend on how much rain each growing region receives
• Prices may rebound next week; weather forecasts predict a wet March

Mexico (into South Texas)

• MFC Strawberries are not available
• Most growers have ended their fresh strawberry season
• Driscoll’s strawberry and mixed berry seasons will continue through April
• Quality is fair to good; bruising, overripe fruit, and soft texture are issues due to warm temperatures
• The current market is slightly lower than prices in Florida

Florida

• MFC Strawberries are not available
• Supplies are plentiful; prices have inched down slightly
• The Florida season will peak in March; harvesting will continue through early April
• Overall quality is good
• Texture is fairly firm to firm
• Size is medium to large; counts range from 12 to 23 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• One- and two-pound clamshells are available; no four-pound packs are being shipped
• No rain is forecast until Thursday, March 10
• Weather is more favorable than conditions in Southern California
• Warm temperatures are a slight concern
• Highs are forecast in the low to upper 80s
• Steady prices are expected through March

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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