Desert farmers report strong harvest of winter vegetables
Farmers typically sell most leafy greens to shippers through contracts, with pric- es and quantities agreed before planting, which provides some protection from mar- ket fluctuations. But supply and demand still play a role in determining whether a season is profit- able. This year, Vessey & Co. is selling about 20% of its leafy greens on the open market. Iceberg lettuce from the Imperial and Coachella valleys was selling last week for $11.50 to $12.55 per carton, according to data from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. Those rates are not far off prices seen in recent years, but well below the $34 to $37 a carton of lettuce from the region fetched last January after a plant virus devastated lettuce crops farther north. This year, “Everybody’s got great sup- plies,” Vessey said. Growers said the absence of win- ter storms in population hubs on the
By Caleb Hampton Winter vegetable harvest is in full swing in the Imperial Valley, and growers say the conditions this season have been close to perfect. “I’ve had a great growing season. Everything is on time and beautiful, with great yields,” said Jack Vessey of Vessey & Co., which grows romaine and ice- berg lettuce, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and other vegetables in the Imperial Valley. “That’s always nice as a grower.” Farmers in the Imperial Valley typi- cally begin planting winter vegetables in September and harvest them starting in November when production moves south from the Salinas Valley. Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, said the Central Coast had a strong fall vegetable season, which ended in December for most crops in the region, despite initial concern that massive flooding last spring could cause gaps in production. “Growers and landowners were able to recover quickly during the late-spring months,” Groot said. “While some sched- ules were adjusted, the overall production levels met market expectations.” In the Imperial Valley, growers said a fall planting season without heat waves and a mild winter have created ideal conditions for leafy greens and vegetables. Last week, the valley saw highs in the 60s and over- night lows in the 30s and 40s. Ralph Strahm of Strahm Farms, which grows organic and conventional carrots and other crops in the Imperial Valley, said extreme heat can cause problems with the germination of carrots, and too cold a win- ter can slow their growth. “The weather has been extraordinarily good,” Strahm said. “We were able to get things going early and never looked back.” Crews began harvesting Strahm’s bunch carrots in late December and will finish at the end of this month. Harvest for processor carrots will begin in February. “Everything is like it should be,” Strahm said. Alex Jack of Jack Brothers grows lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and other crops in the Imperial Valley. “Our crops are look- ing fantastic,” Jack said. “We’re pretty much right on schedule.” While labor shortages have strained har- vest operations elsewhere in California, farmers in the Imperial Valley said the local workforce, largely comprising legal cross-border commuters from Mexicali, was sufficient to meet harvest needs. “Because of our location, it’s not as bad as other places in California,” Vessey said. The Imperial Valley, along with the near- by Coachella Valley and Yuma, Arizona, supply as much as 90% of the leafy greens, carrots and other fresh vegetables the U.S. consumes from Thanksgiving through St. Patrick’s Day.
This winter, growers have welcomed the bountiful harvest but have also seen it cut into profits. “Along with great weather comes excess supply, and therefore markets have been quite depressed throughout our harvest season,” Vessey said. “Demand seems to be there, but we’ve got oversupply.”
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January 10, 2024 Ag Alert 3
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