News and Stories

Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available; Markon Best Available (MBA) and packer label supplies are being substituted as needed. Supplies remain extremely limited; demand exceeds supply in all growing areas. Salinas/Watsonville new crop is displaying very good quality; Santa Maria and Oxnard are having quality challenges due to high winds. Markon recommends loading in Salinas/Watsonville for best quality. Mother’s Day promotional pricing will end Saturday, May 7. Open market pricing, the week of May 9, is expected to be higher than current promotional pricing.

Oxnard, California

• MFC Strawberries are not available; MBA and packer label are being substituted as needed
• The season is winding down; supplies are expected to continue shipping through the week of May 9
• Although weather is favorable, plants are stressed as they approach the end of their production cycle
• Quality issues and shortened shelf-life are a concern
• Quality is fair: some bleeding, bronzing, bruising, decay, and soft texture are present
• Size is small to medium; counts average 22-34 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Labor is limited with many workers moving north for the Spring/Summer seasons
• Prices are steady at elevated levels; demand exceeds supply

Santa Maria, California

• MFC Strawberries are limited; MBA and packer label are being substituted as needed
• Supplies remain extremely tight for the last week of Mother’s Day pull
• There is a slight chance of showers forecast for this Friday, May 6
• High winds (20-30 mph) last week led to quality declining quickly
• Quality is fairly-good with wind related issues becoming an industry wide concern
• Problems include bronzing, bruising, green tips, white shoulders, wind damage, and occasional decay
• Sizing is medium to medium-plus
• Counts average 16-24 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Prices are steady to slightly higher; demand exceeds supply

Salinas/Watsonville, California

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Very light showers last Wednesday, April 27 had minimal impact on quality/supply
• Another chance of rain is forecast for this Friday, May 6 (approximately 0.10”-0.20”) which may keep supplies limited the week of May 9
• Supplies are improving each week, but availability remains extremely tight due to erratic weather and increased demand for Mother’s Day
• Quality is good to excellent
• Minor issues are light bruising, creasing, green tips, over pack due to large sizing, and white shoulder
• Sizing is medium-plus to large
• Counts average 12-18 berries per 1-pound clamshell
• Prices are steady to slightly higher; demand exceeds supply

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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