Good afternoon,
COLD WEATHER continues to cause headaches across most major growing regions this week.
FREIGHT out of the northeast and west has been hard to come by thanks to the record breaking winter storms we have seen the last few weeks. Whether drivers stayed home to wait out the conditions or were delayed unloading, the market is experiencing a shortage of available drivers. This shortage is driving up the cost on trucks out of the north east, impacting items like GRAPES, STONE FRUIT, APPLES, and POTATOES.
BELL PEPPER, SQUASH, TOMATOES, STRAWBERRIES, and more have been completely frozen out this week. Many farmers lost upwards of 75% of their supply, if not the entirety of it. Expect increasingly volatile markets as CORN, CELERY, CABBAGE, EGGPLANT, LETTUCE, ROMAINE, and more have been massively impacted by the Florida freeze.
Fog and cold weather in California have reduced yields of CARROTS. Reports indicate that growers will move into new fields in the Imperial valley ahead of schedule in order to catch up with demand. Unfortunately, we do not expect any relief for at least another 3-4 weeks. Supplies out west will affect all markets, but the immediate impact will be seen on BABY PEELED CARROTS.
LETTUCE, ROMAINE, SPINACH, CAULIFLOWER, and BROCCOLI markets remain active this week. Lighter yields and limited production due to early season rain and slow growth is expected for another few weeks. Market pricing is very active late this week, leading to some significant price increases for weekend loadings.
Hopefully we get some warmer weather and better news next week!
More as it happens,
Parker Tannehill