All lettuces are expecting quality to be impacted by the high temperatures over the past weekend in California. Quality reports are showing some fringe and occasional internal burn with wind bruising. Supplies of romaine remain limited as most growers are dealing with reduced yield as a result of damage from the heat. Supplies have been very limited.
New-crop potatoes have better volume every day now as new fields come on. Idaho, Washington and Oregon have been going for a few weeks now, and Colorado has just started with conventional potatoes. The potato industry took a huge hit as the results of the COVID-19 pandemic. Retail has increased some but not to the extent of the loss of the food service business. Farmers have lost a lot of money this year and are really struggling. The new crop is looking good so far with markets stabilizing now.
Our local farmers are harvesting squash and cucumbers again and quality has been gorgeous. Yellow squash remains a bit limited but zucchini is widely available. Tomatoes are in full swing in North Carolina in all areas. Gorgeous fruit of all varieties including some gorgeous heirloom varieties. They change from week to week so call us to see what’s available.
The new apple crop out of Washington State is now in full swing. They are now harvesting new-crop Galas, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Ginger Golds, Fuji, and Granny Smiths. The crop was originally projected to be very similar in size to last year but, as the growers get into the orchards, they are starting to come up short of initial projections so far. We should know a lot more in another month from now but, either way, there will be plenty of fruit for the first part of the season.
California strawberry farmers are really having a difficult time. Supplies are extremely tight, prices are higher and quality is marginal at best. It’s been so hot that they’ve had to prorate orders to extremes. Here’s some of the issues they’re seeing…
1. High degree of pin rot and decay in field and managed at our dock, taking away from total actuals (This fog will continue to add decay/rot pressure)
2. Not a lot of fruit development on the plant, so labor has become challenged
3. Cooler degree days, slowing fruit maturation
4. Environmental Challenge- Smoke layer has reduced sun exposure and further reduced fruit and plant maturation
5. Winter plant Santa Maria volume being pulled out- variable day-to-day
6. Somewhat delayed summer production in Oxnard
Q: Why do lazy kids want to be astronauts?
A: Because there’s no pressure.
