News and Stories

Heavy rains during Florida’s planting and growing season will affect the availability of spring tomatoes. Estimates indicate production will be decreased by 35% for the months of April and May. Current quality is good, however cloudy skies and rain storms are expected over the next 7 to 10 days, which will further limit production and impact quality. The new crop mature green tomato season will ramp up in the Ruskin and Palmetto regions by mid-April, bolstering volume through spring. Production will decline in both Florida and Mexico due to less available labor leading up to the Easter holiday; the U.S./Mexico border will have shortened hours for crossings through the weekend.

Florida

• Cloudy skies and rain are forecast over the next 7 to 10 days
• Matures green supplies are limited due to adverse weather over the winter months
• Prices will remain elevated for approximately three weeks
• Growers in Ruskin and Palmetto, Florida will begin harvesting in mid-April, increasing Florida stocks
• Roma tomatoes are tight; the majority of supplies are being sourced from Mexico
• Mexican crossings remain steady, keeping markets stable
• Florida is producing limited quantities, but overall quality is good
• Grape tomatoes are extremely tight in Florida and Mexico (into Arizona and Texas); demand exceeds supply in all regions
• The market is high; prices will continue to climb into next week
• New crop production will start in mid-April, ending shortages
• Cherry tomato volume is low, but steady; weak demand is preventing price spikes

Mexico

• Mexico’s open-field season has been substantially impacted by white fly infestations
• Quality problems caused by white fly infestations include dehydration, softness, and yellowing; also, the insects feed on the leaves of the plant, preventing it from producing fruit and decreasing yields
• Growers are expecting the season to end in four weeks, a month earlier than normal
• Mature green tomatoes are limited
• Mexico shade house and greenhouse growing operations will continue to ship fruit through early June
• Roma supplies are sufficient; increased demand due to low East Coast volume is pushing up prices
• Excessive heat over the last two weeks has pushed fields ahead of schedule
• Heat-related issues such as softness and puffy texture have been reported
• Production in Baja and Sonora, Mexico will ramp up over the next 10 days; volume will remain below normal until new crop harvesting begins
• Wind and hail storms in Baja, Mexico over the past three weeks have caused bloom drop in some fields
• Grape tomatoes remain limited in both growing regions
• Extra-large and jumbo sizes dominate supplies
• Production will start in the Baja region in early May

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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