It may not be a Rocky Mountain “high” for many shippers in Colorado this summer or fall due to a winter than lingered on and on, combined with some drought conditions. In a nutshell most Colorado vegetable shipments will be okay, but not great, while Western slope peaches may not be worth a produce hauler’s time. Potato shipments will be off some from last season.
Vegetable loadings from areas such as Brighton, Eaton and LaSalle are running nearly a week and one-half late. We’re talking items ranging from potatoes and onions to sweet corn and cabbage.
The Rocky Ford area is loading peppers, tomatoes, squash, carrots and green beans, among other items.
Colorado Fruit Shipments Hit
Colorado isn’t widely known for its cherry shipments, and will become even less so this year, thanks to a late freeze in May. While peaches fared better, it also will be significantly off — possibly by 30 percent. There will be some pear shipments into early October, and some apple loadings through at least Thanksgiving and possibily into December.
Colorado Potato Shipments
The Rocky Mountain state has about 49,700 acres of potato acreage for the 2013-14 shipping season, which is down over 5,000 acres from a year ago. Spud loadings get underway after Labor Day.