Ford's Produce Supply Update
June 8, 2009
Better weather and seasonal transitions to new growing areas have California’s berry farms in high speed. Great supplies of raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries and excellent quality are showing signs that this is summer. Blueberries are being harvested all over eastern North Carolina, and they’ve been awesome. Blackberries and raspberries are also available locally, and this adds volume to the market and keeps prices lower. We’ll have local raspberries and blackberries as long as they are available, and will supplement them with the beautiful California fruit as needed.
California’s fruit season goes on, with Ranier cherries, Bing cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and now grapes available. Supplies are increasing as the harvests continue to increase with the summer season. Just about everything you can think of is coming from California right now, and the quality has been phenomenal so far this year.
Due to the heavy rains in Florida over the past couple of weeks, their season is over for all practical purposes. Some areas had over 24” of rain. This was a huge blow to those guys who also had poor weather last season. Georgia has had a lot of rain also, and will have an abbreviated growing season. We’ll see some better supplies of eastern vegetables once South Carolina, Tennessee, and of course North Carolina really get going.
Tomatoes probably took the most damage from the rains, and prices are way up this week. Supplies are very tight, and good quality is difficult to come by. The good news though is that more heirloom varieties are coming into season.
Locally, our farmers are bringing berries, squash, zucchini, pickling cucumbers, and green cabbage. We’re right on the cusp of lots of other items coming to market; they just need a bit more time in the field.
Washington and California are experiencing shorter seasons than normal, and both are forecasting to end around the end of June. Peruvian asparagus is widely available and lower price than domestic, but quality is not nearly as nice.
Q: What did one plate say to the other plate?
A: Lunch is on me!