Supplies of some California winter vegetables, lettuces in particular, were tight for Thanksgiving, but availability was good on others, and volume overall should increase by Christmas.
Ocean Mist Farms of Castroville, CA report the lettuce shortage started as the Salinas season was completed.
Salinas was described and being “…a rough end to the season,” with severe virus problems in the Salinas Valley.
F.O.B. prices for 24-count cartons of romaine lettuce were in the $80 range in early November, according to the USDA. A year earlier, they were less than half that.
Ocean Mist began sourcing lettuce out of Yuma, AZ, just prior to Thanksgiving week.
Boskovich Farms of Oxnard, CA report disease problems with California celery as well.
The Nunes Co., of Salinas notes volume for broccoli and cauliflower could be down due to cooler than normal weather. The company transitioned to its Arizona and Mexico desert growing areas in early November.
Despite the gloomy outlook for some items, growers were optimistic about other commodities.
Progressive Produce LLC of Los Angeles has positive news noting there are plenty of holiday staples like potatoes, onions and asparagus available, with good quality.
Progressive Produce sources from Colorado, Washington, California and Idaho during the winter.
The Nunes Co. will ship 40 conventional and 30 organic products this fall and winter. Its core items include organic and conventional romaine, iceberg and leaf lettuces, cauliflower, broccoli and celery. Celery, broccoli and cauliflower shipments are especially good during the holidays.
Coastline Family Farms of Salinas will continue to ship full line of over 25 products this season, including iceberg lettuce, broccoli bunches and crowns, cauliflower, naked and sleeved celery, romaine cartons, romaine hearts, green and red leaf lettuces, green onions and a full line of bunching items.
The company began shipping from the desert in Yuma the first week of November with iceberg and romaine lettuce. Its other vegetable items come of Brawley, CA in the Imperial Valley, which started started right after Thanksgiving.
About 75% of Ocean Mist Farms’ winter volume comes from California’s Coachella Valley, Munger said, and 25% comes from Yuma.
The transition to Coachella from the Salinas area took place by the third week of November for most items.
Ocean Mist is the largest artichoke grower in North America, although the company also ships 30 other items, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, leaf lettuces: iceberg, romaine, romaine hearts, yellow and green leaf lettuce, spinach; and some specialty items like anise and escarole.
Boskovich Farms of Oxnard is shipping onions, radishes, kale, romaine hearts and beets from Mexico. The company also grows parsley, cilantro, spinach and celery year-round in Oxnard.