News and Stories

Asparagus markets are expected to remain steady until increased holiday demand pushes pricing up. Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available. Green bell pepper supplies will tighten as California and Michigan harvests wind down over the next six weeks; markets will rise by mid- to late September. Red bell peppers are plentiful in California; prices will weaken over the next ten days. Yellow bell pepper supplies are ample in California; prices will rise by late September as supplies decrease. California lemon stocks are decreasing as the Southern California crop winds down; small sizes are especially tight. Small sizes will increase when new crop supplies ramp up in late September/early October. California strawberry supplies have increased due to favorable weather conditions in Salinas/Watsonville and Santa Maria; MFC Strawberries are available in both growing regions. Markon recommends loading in Salinas/Watsonville due to availability, quality, and lower prices. High temperatures in the Michigan growing region have pushed cucumber and squash supplies ahead of schedule and reduced yields. Hurricane Hermine is expected to cause quality and supply issues in Georgia and North Carolina new crop stocks. West Coast prices are climbing as cucumber and squash demand shifts away from East Coast regions. Green onion fields in Mexico continue to produce primarily small sizes due to elevated temperatures. Sizing issues should improve in late September with cooler weather. Storage crop Idaho Burbank potatoes are depleted. New crop Norkotahs are the sole variety on the market; MFC Norkotahs are available.

Asparagus

• Production is increasing in Baja, Mexico and Peru
• Demand is moderate, but will strengthen as the holiday season approaches
• Pricing will hold steady for the next three weeks before inching up
• Quality is very good: tips are tight and color is deep green; MFC Asparagus is available

Bell Peppers

• Green bell pepper supplies will tighten as California and Michigan harvests wind down over the next six weeks; markets will rise by mid- to late September
• MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green Bell Peppers are available in California, Tennessee, and Texas
• Red bell pepper demand is weak; plentiful supplies in California will weaken prices over the next ten days
• Quality is very good: walls are thick, texture is firm, and flavor is sweet, yet spicy
• Yellow bell pepper supplies are ample in California, though hot weather has pushed harvests ahead of schedule; prices will rise by late September

California Lemons

• MFC and ESS Lemons are sporadic
• Stocks are decreasing as the Southern California crop winds down
• Packer label is being substituted as needed
• Fancy and choice grades, as well as 140-, 165-, and 200-count sizes are extremely tight; demand exceeds supply
• The first shipments of new crop Arizona/California desert supplies are expected the week of September 12 in Yuma, Arizona and/or Coachella Valley, California
• Small sizes will increase when new crop supplies ramp up in late September/early October

California Strawberries

• Supplies have increased due to favorable weather in Salinas/Watsonville and Santa Maria growing regions
• Markets are expected to remain low to steady for the next few weeks before rebounding once Salinas/Watsonville yields diminish
• MFC Strawberries are available in Salinas/Watsonville and Santa Maria
• Markon recommends loading in Salinas/Watsonville due to availability, quality, and lower prices

Cucumbers and Squash

• High temperatures in the Michigan growing region over the past six weeks have pushed crops ahead of schedule and reduced yields
• Growers in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee will ramp up new crop production over the next two weeks
• Hurricane Hermine is expected to create quality issues such as bruising, decay, scarring, and wind damage and reduce yields over the next several weeks
• West Coast prices are climbing as demand shifts away from the East Coast regions

Green Onions

• Mexico continues to experience hot weather conditions causing lighter weights and fewer jumbo sizes
• Despite the high temperatures, there is enough volume to fill orders and keep the market steady at high levels
• Prices will remain elevated until late September, when weather conditions cool
• Markon will continue to monitor trigger levels for Ready-Set-Serve Green Onions and update accordingly

Idaho Potatoes

• MFC Norkotahs are available
• Storage crop Burbank supplies are depleted
• New crop Norkotahs are the sole variety on the market
• Limited stocks of fresh-run packer label Burbanks will be available the first week of October; the bulk of new crop Burbanks will be placed into storage
• Burbank potatoes that have gone through the sweat will be available for shipment the first week of November
• After going through the sweat process, new crop White Russets will be available in late October

Hurricane Hermine

• Hurricane Hermine is forecast to make landfall in Florida late Thursday, September 1
• After making landfall, the system will accelerate northeast across Southern Georgia and the Carolinas
• New crop cucumbers and squash in Georgia and North Carolina are expected to be delayed as a result of heavy rain and wind
• Expect cucumber and squash markets to remain elevated over the next ten days as growers assess the impact of Hermine

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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