It is only days until the first Mexican grapes of the season start crossing the border through Nogales, AZ. Meanwhile, some California vegetables continue to struggle to make volume with a shipping gap continuing.
We’re about a week from the starting of the table grape shipments from the Mexican state of Sonora with both the Hermosillo and Caborca areas reporting good crops heading into the season. A total volume of 19 million cartons is estimated this season for Mexican grapes.
Generally, the Mexican table grape season starts the first week of May lasting all the way through the first or second week of July, with varieties like Red Globe. However, the vast majority of the total volume is quickly declining by the end of June.
Sonora’s table grape shipments are extremely important for the fresh produce industry as it happens right between the end of the South American season, mainly from Chile and Peru, countries with the highest exports to the United States, and the beginning of the California season, mostly from the San Joaquin Valley.
Mexican vegetables, tomatoes and melons crossing through Nogales – grossing about $3200 to Chicago.
California Lettuce Shipments
Farmers in California have been plagued by drought for several years, but the problem in 2017 is too much rain. That has limited shipments of vegetable items for salads and it may be weeks before shipments show any semblance of normal.
Warmer than usual weather brought an early end to the growing season in Southern California and western Arizona. That was followed by heavy rain, pushing back planting in coastal regions of California, which is the largest U.S. fruit and vegetable producer. The is primarily the Salinas Valley and to a lesser extend the Santa Maria area.
The delays have led to shortfalls of crops including lettuce and broccoli and sent wholesale prices soaring. The cost of a carton of 30 celery heads has almost tripled since early February to $25 f.o.b.
Assuming the California weather cooperates, shipments of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and some other items should eventually become more consistent. However, shipping gaps will be occurring and we’ll be well into May before the situation show substantial improvement.
Meanwhile, lettuce from the Huron area in the San Joaquin Valley is about finished.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $6400 to New York City.