Weather during the past few summers has been challenging for farmers, and Jason Turek, partner at Turek Farms in Kings Ferry, NY, said 2014 is no exception. “The temps have been seasonal, but it’s still wet,” he told The Produce News in mid-June. And he offered a further perspective. “There was still ice on Lake Erie in April.”

Turek takes things in stride. “As farmers, we’re never happy,” he chuckled. The situation hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm, however. “We are hoping for a warm, long summer,” he added.

Rain continued to fall in June, and Turek said that’s made it hard to get into the field. “It’s hard to keep on a planting schedule when it’s wet,” he commented.

Turek Farms, a multi-generational grower and shipper of fresh vegetables, is located in the New York’s Finger Lakes region. Grower operations are also situated in Delaware and Florida. “The vegetable business started with my father, grandfather and uncle in the late ‘60s,” said Turek, who is a member of the family’s fourth generation.

The company’s manifest is comprised of sweet corn, green beans, summer squash, cabbage, winter squash, pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds, radishes, tray pack corn and cucumbers.

Overall weather conditions have translated to a delay of production in New York and Delaware of two solid weeks, he went on to say. But field conditions have improved.

Cayuga Produce Inc., the marketing arm for Turek Farms, handles all sales. Last season, Turek Farms/Cayuga Produce partnered with Magee Farms in Delaware to move their sweet corn. Turek said the inaugural season went well, and the partnership will continue in 2014.

“The crop looks really nice,” he said of current sweet corn production. Turek anticipates a good marketing window for sweet corn in July “because the North is behind.”

Commodities are marketed from Maine to Miami and into Texas. Additionally, Turek Farms moves product to export destinations such as England and Puerto Rico. “We do some occasional export to Europe depending upon market conditions,” he added.

Turek Farms is also a supporter of the Pride of New York program, which has been branding agricultural commodities with a special logo and providing instant recognition among consumers for products grown and consumed in New York since 1996.

The company is a strong supporter of onsite seed trials. “Every year we get to take a look at the new varieties,” he said of the process. “We are trying some new varieties this year.”