Salinas Valley vegetable shipments have been reduced for much of 2023 due to rain, floods, cold and cloudy weather. However, warmer weather is now leading to bigger volume and loading opportunties.
Impatiens necrotic spot virus – INSV – a daunting lettuce pest in recent years, may be a problem as warm weather otherwise boosts Salinas production.
The most recent chilly, cloudy weather cleared in mid-June, which is increasing Salinas vegetable production and shipments. Sales and marketing company Produce West of Salinas, CA reports the slow start to the season was all weather related, resulting in a two week delay in plantings.
Salinas celery has a lot of seeders and yields are down.
In Salinas, INSV has been a problem for the last three years, although not much of a problem so far this year. However, there are concerns it may be a problem with warmer temperatures. The virus sucks the life out of plants. Santa Maria also is discovering a little INSV now. That’s not a good sign if they have warmer weather.