Quality Problems, Shipping Gaps Hit Desert Vegetables

Quality Problems, Shipping Gaps Hit Desert Vegetables

DSCN3546+1Desert vegetable shipments out the Arizona and California deserts continue to be lower than normal, but if you do load any product check the quality of what is being put in the truck.

Supply and quality issues will complicate the remainder of the California and Arizona lettuce deals, and prices should stay high as a result, because of shipping gaps.

You also are paying more for lettuce at the supermarket.  Cartons of lettuce at shipping point are more than triple what they were this time last year (now $25.50-28.50 for cartons of film-lined 24-count iceberg).

The shipping gaps are hard to predict because some shippers are harvesting, while others may be in a gap due to when they planted, etc.  Gaps also are affecting romaine, head lettuce, etc. at different times.

This problem is expected to last weeks, if not months.  For example there are about 12 weeks left for shipping lettuce out of Yuma.  It is beginning to look like the shipping gaps, and quality problems will be around until the seasonal shift takes the harvest back to Huron, Santa Maria and Salinas.

If colder than normal weather is prevelant in the coming weeks it could further delay or reduce lettuce volume – and shipments.

Yuma vegetable shipments – grossing about $7200 to New York City.