After summer rains, Krichmar looking forward to fall season
After summer rains, Krichmar looking forward to fall season
VINELAND, NJ — The produce-growing areas of southern New Jersey saw “a lot of rain, which was disastrous there for a while,” Jay Krichmar, president of Krichmar Produce Co., here, told The Produce News Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19. “But then the weather straightened out.”
Jay Krichmar (seated), president of Krichmar Produce Co. Inc. in Vineland, NJ, with Brian Bassetti, Moises Lozano and Jerry Mongelluzzo. (Photo by Gordon M. Hochberg)
With those improving conditions as the summer wore on, he was seeing good volume and the kind of excellent quality that the Garden State is known for. “The condition and quality of eggplant and peppers are the best I’ve seen in 10 years,” he said as examples.
“Now going forward, we’re hoping the weather is cooperative,” he added. “Planting of all crops looks to be pretty much on schedule for the fall.” More specifically, he was hoping to see “a good squash deal and sweet potato deal.” Greens and cabbage “always are a good deal,” he added, along with other fall items such as “kale, parsley and all the lettuces.”
Krichmar Produce was also continuing to make some improvements and upgrades at its facility here in Vineland. New speed doors on the coolers, which help to maintain stable temperatures, were installed at the end of June. New galvanized racks, which resist rusting, were expected to arrive on Sept. 21, and then should take about a week to install, said the company president.
Also, “Our fleet will be completed with the last of six new tractors,” said Krichmar. Five were delivered during the course of the summer, and the sixth was expected to be delivered by the end of August.