News and Stories

The bell pepper market will climb over the next two weeks. Volume in Coachella, California will move past its peak over the next 10 days; the season will wind down by mid-June. Cauliflower stocks are extremely limited; expect high prices for several weeks. The iceberg lettuce market is easing, while green leaf and romaine prices will remain at high levels. Tender leaf items are limited due to erratic weather that caused quality issues and reduced stocks over the last several months.

• Avocados
• 48-count and larger sizes are extremely tight; 60-count and smaller sizes are also becoming limited as a result
• The Mexican market is elevated; demand is shifting to the California crop, pushing up those markets and decreasing supplies
• Quality is very good: oil content is high
• Prices are expected to continue rising for the next several weeks until supplies become more plentiful in mid- to late June

 Bell Peppers

• Expect tighter supplies in Coachella over the next two to three weeks
• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green Bell Peppers are available in California, Florida, and Mexico (into Nogales, Arizona); MFC Red Bell Peppers are available in California and Mexico (into Nogales)
• West Coast quality is excellent
• Prices will rise over the next week as demand shifts to domestic stocks

 Broccoli and Cauliflower

• Broccoli supplies are forecast to remain sufficient for the next several weeks
• Cauliflower prices are escalating; stocks are extremely limited
• MFC Broccoli Crowns are sporadic; Markon Best Available will be substituted as necessary due to branchy stems
• ESS Cauliflower is available
• Open-market cauliflower prices are approaching Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) trigger levels that should be met by Wednesday, May 18
• Expect high cauliflower prices for several weeks
• Broccoli stocks will tighten; prices will increase the week of May 23

 California Oranges

• Prices continue to rise
• Supplies of 113- and 138-count oranges remain extremely limited; late-season Navel oranges are dominated by 72-count and larger sizes
• MFC and ESS Oranges are sporadic; packer label is being substituted as needed
• New crop Valencia stocks will increase over the next several weeks, reaching adequate levels by late May/early June; the season typically runs through October

 Idaho Potatoes

• Idaho potato stocks are dominated by small potatoes (80- through 100- count sizes); large potatoes (40- through 70-count sizes) are limited
• Prices for large stocks will begin to increase next week; the market for small sizes is expected to remain relatively steady
• Idaho experienced record-high temperatures this past summer as well as sudden shifts to freezing weather; these factors will contribute to inconsistent size and sporadic quality issues as the storage season progresses
• 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

 Limes

• Volume from Veracruz, Mexico (into South Texas) will increase by 10 to 15% per week
• The market is elevated, but expected to ease over the next two weeks
• Large sizes (110- to 175-count limes) will remain limited through May; small sizes (200- to 250-count fruit) will steadily increase over the next two weeks

 Pears

• Remaining stocks are dominated by large fruit (80- and 90-count sizes); smaller sizes (120- and 135-count supplies) are extremely limited as a result
• Prices for large sizes will remain steady, while the market for small fruit will continue to increase
• Quality is excellent 
• The California season will begin in late July

 RSS Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Triggers

• Erratic weather over the last month is causing supply, quality, and yield issues
• Prices are rising
• Quality problems such as fringe burn, growth cracking, inconsistent head density, insect pressure, and mildew are reducing yields and carton weights as well as decreasing the number of overall cartons on the market
• Expect tight supplies for the next two to three weeks

 RSS Iceberg Triggers Down

• Supplies have increased slightly; post Mother’s Day demand is weak
• Prices are easing
• Quality is good
• Expect the market to continue inching down

 Salinas Valley Lettuce and Tender Leaf

• Iceberg yields are increasing; green leaf, romaine, and tender leaf items are limited
• Prices for iceberg lettuce are expected to ease, while the green leaf and romaine markets will remain at high levels into next week
• Quality problems such as fringe burn, insect damage, mildew, and wind scarring are reducing green leaf and romaine volume
• Mildew, insect damage, small size, and tip burn are issues in arugula, spinach, and spring mix supplies
• Expect green leaf, romaine, and tender leaf supplies to remain tight for the next 7 to 10 days; iceberg supplies will increase over the next week

 Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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