“Right now we’re projecting that the cabbage movement in Georgia will start on April 23,” Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers, headquartered in Cheriton, VA, told The Produce News April 16. “Cucumbers are scheduled to begin around May 15, followed by peppers on May 25.”

He noted that the company had already finished the Florida cabbage movement, which left a little gap until harvesting begins in Georgia.

“Technically we run a little longer in Florida, and we start Georgia a little earlier-usually around April 15-but movement was slowed down in Georgia a bit because of the bad winter that affected regions this far south,” he added.

Cullen explained that cabbage is always the first crop to be harvested as the growing seasons move northward from Florida each spring because it’s a hardier product that can withstand late cold snaps better than other field vegetables.

He also said that there is one good thing about the past winter’s frigid weather that consistently hammered the Northeast, and as far south as Georgia.

“Producers moving north will likely be forced to stay within their normal windows,” he said. “That means that over production and gluts will be avoided and that translates into everyone getting fairer market shares on their crops. When Northern states come in early they can really beat us up on freight savings, which is a good incentive for them to try.”

Although he stressed that he can’t speak for every grower in Georgia, Cullen does expect that most will be running about a week late getting their crops out of the ground, and some as late as two weeks or even more.

In mid-April, however, things were looking positive in Georgia.

“We’ve had ample rain and everything is setting up to be really good quality,” said Cullen. “We’re willing to live with a little glitch if it means we can bring home an outstanding crop.”

Northampton Growers moves northward from Florida with the regional production seasons ending up in Michigan in the late summer. It then moves back southward for its fall season. The company ships its fresh produce under the “Plantation” brand in Georgia and Virginia. In North Carolina it uses the “Mattanuskeett” label-after its namesake lake-on product from the Fairfield, NC, area. The company ships its product throughout the eastern United States, the Midwest and into Canada.

Steve McCready, the company’s comptroller, is a partner in the business with Cullen. Founded in 1959, the company has evolved from a two-person operation to a staff of 30 full time in-house employees.

Cullen said that this level of consistent growth that the company has experienced since its founding is proof that customers are coming back and that new ones are responsive to its goods and services.

“Our priority is to provide high quality fresh produce and the highest level of service,” he said. “This strategy has worked for us throughout our history, and we anticipate that our future growth will also be based on our sound background in both areas.”

In mid-April, Northampton was in the process of planting its spring crop in the Carolinas, and it anticipated that cabbage and green beans would start there around June 5. Squash and cucumbers are expected to be ready for harvesting in the Carolinas on June 20.

“With decent growing conditions now in all of our areas, we feel that the season will unwind nicely with high quality and good volume crops,” he said. “We just need to stay away from hailstorms. Those late evening thunderstorms can be torrential when and if they happen.

“If weather conditions change considerably — as in if heat picks up quickly and strongly in the Carolinas — things will likely catch up and end up being closer to their windows moving northward,” Cullen continued. One thing is for certain — customers will have great supplies of high quality produce from Northampton again this year.”