Great start to 2015 New Jersey season for D’Ottavio
Great start to 2015 New Jersey season for D’Ottavio
VINELAND, NJ — “The 2015 Jersey season looks to be off to a great start,” Mike D’Ottavio stated in mid-May.
“Weather issues in the southeastern United States have created very high markets with even stronger demand,” he continued. “The unfortunate California drought problems are certainly paying off for us growers on the East Coast. We haven’t seen lettuce markets like this in a long time.”
As a grower and shipper, “We hope for a steady market without the crazy highs and lows that only hurt in the long run,” he said. “Soon we will start New Jersey blueberries, and they look great.” It was still early for an exact start date, but D’Ottavio estimated that Jersey blues “could start around June 12.”
There has been “perfect weather for the plants to bloom, followed up with very warm, dry weather for pollination,” he noted. “Our bee habitats are working overtime. Using Natures Eye for our irrigation, we water our plants only when they need it. Saving water and only running our diesel pumps 50 percent of the time also saves a tremendous amount of fuel.”
He concluded, “Along with blueberries, we will roll right into peppers, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, peaches, corn — the list goes on and on. We have a long uncertain season ahead of us, but it’s a great way to start.”