It’s a different ballgame hauling produce late in the year. Many truckers take time off for the holidays, yet receivers are needing to replenish supplies from Christmas and the New Year’s celebrations. Then throw in a little weather and it makes things even more unpredictable.
Shipments from California’s San Joaquin Valley are not expected to be significantly affected by a freeze that occurred Dec. 18-20, as well as another one around New Years. The valley is shipping everything from late season table grapes to carrots, kiwifruit and citrus.
Further south in the Imperial Valley and the Yuma District of Arizona, it is a little different story with desert vegetables.
Although it has been unseasonably warm in the desert shipping regions, this was interrupted by a pre-Christmas frost . This is expected to cause shortages of lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower the last half of January. Loading opportunities could be off 20 to 30 percent on all desert vegetables.
Light frosts hit Arizona’s Yuma region and California’s Imperial and Coachella valleys Dec. 19-21. No major damage was reported.
Farmers have being leaving a lot of product in the field because it just grew too fast and had some significant quality problems. As a result, yields, harvest and loadings have been off 20 to 30 percent. Some vegetables have been maturing up to three weeks earlier than normal.
San Joaquin Valley produce – grossing about $6500 to New York.
Imperial Valley vegetables – about $4500 to Atlanta.