News and Stories

Erratic weather, quality problems, and strong demand are causing lettuce and leafy green prices to escalate; limited supplies and rising markets are expected through next week. California’s Central Valley lemon growing season is winding down; expect elevated markets over the next two months until Chilean supplies increase. Mother’s Day demand is keeping strawberry prices high; demand exceeds supply in all areas as cold temperatures, strong winds, and rain are keeping yields low.

Domestic Melons

• Early season domestic supplies will be limited at first, but will ramp up over the next two weeks; Mexican stocks (into Nogales, Arizona) will be on the market through late May
• Quality is excellent in both growing regions
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons will be available from California’s Imperial desert region next week
• Prices will ease as industry stocks become more plentiful over the next two weeks

Green Leaf, Iceberg and Romaine

• Supplies are limited and prices are escalating
• Erratic weather, quality problems, and strong demand are causing lettuce and leafy green prices to climb
• Quality issues such as fringe burn, growth cracking, inconsistent head density, insect pressure, and mildew are reducing yields and carton weights as well as the number of overall cartons on the market
• Expect tight stocks and high prices for the next several weeks

Grapes

• Red seedless and Lunch Bunch grapes have been impacted by inclement weather in Chile; markets for all varieties are rising
• MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes are limited; packer label supplies will be substituted as needed
• The season will come to an end in three to four weeks
• Expect a very limited supply of high-quality green and red seedless grapes
• Prices are high
• Mexican supplies will enter the market the week of May 9, but prices will remain elevated until overall volume increases in mid- to late May

Idaho Potatoes

• Idaho potatoes are dominated by small supplies (80- through 100- count sizes); large stocks (40- through 70-count potatoes) are not as plentiful
• Norkotah supplies will be depleted the week of May 16; the Burbank variety will be shipped until new crop, field-run Norkotahs become available in late July
• Prices are expected to remain relatively steady, with slight fluctuations, through the end of the 2015-2016 season (June-July)
• White Russet storage stocks will be on the market through mid-August; prices will remain stable through the end of the season

Lemons

• California’s Central Valley growing season will end over the next four weeks
• Strong demand and limited quantities of 140-count and smaller lemons (through late July/early August) will drive up prices
• The market is elevated and expected to continue climbing over the next two months
• Supplies will increase when Chilean lemons begin arriving into the United States in late June and the Mexican season starts in early August

Pears

• Washington suppliers report approximately 1.6 million cartons remain available for the rest of the season, down from 2.2 million cartons at this time last year
• Prices for large sizes will remain steady, while the market for small sizes will increase as early as next week
• Remaining stocks are dominated by large fruit (80- and 90-count sizes); smaller 120- and 135- count sizes are becoming extremely limited
• The California season will begin in late July

Strawberries

• Demand exceeds supply in all areas; prices are elevated
• Yields are lower than anticipated due to cold temperatures, strong winds, and rain showers that continue to challenge growers
• MFC Strawberries are available; Markon Best Available and packer label supplies are being substituted as needed
• Stocks will remain extremely tight through Mother’s Day

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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