The effects of delayed planting are being mitigated as growers see temperatures warming up for this year’s Eastern Shore potato deal. “Heat has caused the crop to catch up,” said Kenneth Gad, vice president of Cambridge Farms Inc. in Boston, MA. “I’m looking for it to be a high-quality crop with normal yields. The size profile will be fine.”

Cambridge markets reds, whites, yellows and russets. Production typically begins in late June and continues into August.

Gad said producers from North Carolina to Delaware were delayed planting their potatoes this season owing to a late, wet spring. “But they got everything into the ground,” he went on to say.

Growers are playing catchup at a time when other production areas have seen delays of their own. Potato supplies from Florida are also moving a little later than is typical, and as a result, Gad said the supply gap between Florida and Eastern Shore product will be minimized.

Volume is the wildcard this year. “There’s no question, volume sales are down,” he told The Produce News. Gad said delays attributed to weather have affected fresh commodities across the board, and not just potatoes. “Movement is not what we would normally see,” he commented.

Marketplace dynamics are highly changeable for potatoes. Looking at summer potatoes, Gad said, “When they’re ready, you have to go. [But] you can go from a perceived overabundance to a shortage in a week to 10 days.”

Current potato pricing has suffered as a result. “There are too many offerings from too many areas affecting pricing,” he stated. “California is rolling cars East. Idaho is up and down.” Gad said he expected a rebound for yellows, whites and reds in early June. “Pricing will be comfortable,” he said. “That will happen.”

On the retail side, he said, “The bargains and values are out there right now.” Retailers, he continued, are encouraged to lock in suppliers and plan ad campaigns.

On the consumer side, Gad said there doesn’t seem to be enough demand at retail. He wasn’t sure if the same dynamic is showing itself within the foodservice sector.

“Every facet has been affected. We have to open our eyes and realize we live in a false economy,” he observed.

Gad said consumers are learning to waste less at home. In response to current economic conditions, he said consumers are increasingly spending less at retail while, at the same time, stretching out their shopping cycles. “Consumers aren’t freshening-up like they did before,” he observed. Purchase cycles to replace items are being pushed out by three to four days, and even by a week, he explained. And rather than throwing out leftover items from a previous trip to the store, Gad said fewer of these same produce items are being purchased in the following shopping cycle.

“No matter what happened, I’ve learned to waste less,” he said of the dynamic, adding that this pattern has been apparent for the past six and a half years.

“Eating habits are changing as a result,” he stated.

Last year, Gad’s son, Jay, came on board with Cambridge as the company’s director of new business development. “Jay and I are excited to continue with our summer programs,” said Gad. “Our customer base is growing.”

The growers in the Cambridge network continue to improve their packingsheds and upgrade equipment, and Gad said they are working very hard on third-party compliance.

On another note, Gad said Cambridge still feels the loss of Joe Ellis, who died in January. “Joe was part of Cambridge for 30 years, handling transportation and logistics,” Gad noted. “He is missed.”