News and Stories

Cool evening temperatures in the Santa Maria and Salinas, California growing regions have slowed cauliflower growth, limiting supplies. Prices are beginning to rise, but are expected to ease over the next several weeks. The lime market will remain elevated for the next two to three weeks; increased demand for the Cinco de Mayo holiday as well as harvesting transitions in Mexico will keep supplies limited. Strawberry prices are inching up; demand for new crop fruit is strong. Supplies are adequate this week, however if it rains this weekend, quality problems will develop and supplies will tighten.

Bell Peppers

• Green bell pepper supplies will increase in Coachella, California over the next two weeks; Mexican supplies (into Nogales, Arizona and South Texas) are sufficient
• East Coast supplies will be tight for the next two to three weeks due to excessive rains throughout the winter months
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Green Bell Peppers are available in California, Florida, and Mexico (into Arizona and South Texas); MFC Red Bell Peppers are available from Mexico (into Arizona and South Texas)
• Expect green bell pepper prices to ease over the next two weeks; red bell pepper supplies will remain steady

Broccoli and Cauliflower

• Cold weather in the Salinas and Santa Maria, California growing regions have limited cauliflower supplies; prices are rising
• Broccoli stocks are sufficient; the market is steady
• MFC Broccoli Crowns are sporadic; Markon Best Available will be substituted as necessary due to branchy stems
• Markon Essentials Cauliflower is sporadic
• Cauliflower prices are expected to return to average levels over the next 10 to 14 days

Grapes

• The red seedless and Lunch Bunch markets are fairly steady, but green seedless prices are poised to jump in the next one to two weeks
• High quality green seedless supplies will tighten in mid-April as the Chilean season winds down and quality issues become present; prices are expected to ease when new crop Mexican and Coachella, California supplies hit the market early May
• MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes are available from Chile in 21-pound portion packs; packer label supplies will be substituted as needed

Limes

• Supplies are limited from the main growing region of Veracruz, Mexico as growers are transitioning into new regions; the Cinco de Mayo holiday will increase U.S. demand
• The market will remain at elevated levels for the next two to three weeks
• Quality is good, but because current stocks are low, fruit will require more sorting for problems such as discoloration and scarring
• Expect prices to stabilize by early May, once holiday demand winds down and new crop production reaches volume levels

Strawberries

• Stocks are adequate this week, but expected to tighten after this weekend’s rain
• Demand is strong for California strawberries; prices continue to inch up
• MFC Strawberries are available; packer label supplies are being substituted as needed
• This weekend’s rain could limit supplies and push up next week’s prices

Washed & Trimmed Green Leaf and Romaine Quality

• Abnormally hot weather over the last several months in the Arizona/California desert growing region are causing quality concerns in Ready-Set-Serve Green Leaf and Romaine products
• Strong winds and temperatures in the low to mid-90s have resulted in premature pinking at the cut ends and ribs of green leaf and romaine
• Growers are taking the proper precautions to reduce premature pinking by harvesting early in the morning to avoid peak temperatures and reducing harvest-to-cool times
• The transition from the desert region to the Salinas Valley will be completed the week of April 18; for the next several weeks, some supplies will continue to be harvested in Yuma                                             

 Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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