Vegetable shipments are typically down this time of the year, but it will be even lighter than normal the remainder the year for many items.Although the Yuma area in Arizona is experiencing warmer weather, there have been plenty of cold spells and morning frost. Thus, it will take a while for Yuma vegetable shipments to rebound.
Oxnard will probably be the main supplier on celery going into Christmas.
Celery shipments will most likely be light through the New Year and into January. As a result, there will be a later start for harvest, probably after Christmas in the desert.
Cauliflower is in a similar situation. It was to start in the desert the week of Thanksgiving, but the pace is more of a crawl than a sprint.
A similar situation is found as well with various with head lettuce, romaine, and other lettuces. Head lettuce is averaging around 1200 truck loads per week, but volume really drops off for other desert items ranging from broccoli to cauliflower, celery, escarole-endive and greens.
If winter weather cooperates, there should be a significant increase in desert vegetable shipments after the New Year. The same can be said for winter produce shipments from Mexico crossing through Nogales.
California and Arizona desert veggies – grossing about $4000 to Chicago and $7300 to New York City.