Connecticut growers overcoming challenges of heavy spring rains
Connecticut growers overcoming challenges of heavy spring rains
Connecticut's vegetable production season began early this year with favorable weather in April. Farmers were excited about getting into their fields earlier than usual, and were able to plant many crops ahead of schedule.
Then came the rain. Then came more. And still more.
The entire state experienced much heavier-than-normal precipitation throughout May and June. Vegetable production areas were soaked, making field work nearly impossible for most of those two months. Spring was very challenging for Connecticut's farmers.
Weather has improved significantly, however, and we are pleased to report that most crops have caught up or are catching up and returning to schedule. Over all quality, production and prices have been or are expected to be good to excellent.
Connecticut's strawberry season began late due to the excessive precipitation, but quality was very good, and both wholesale and retail demand was high. The blueberry crop has been exceptional, and it came in right on schedule. Raspberries also came in on schedule and with very good quality. As a result, we experienced a rare-but-welcome "berry triple-header" for Independence Day weekend.
Other early-season crops such as beets, lettuce and greens were extremely impressive. The cool wet spring actually was a boon to these crops, and it created a longer-than-normal season, helping to fill in gaps where other crops got off to a lethargic start.
The wet spring was unkind to the first planting of green beans, delaying harvest and decreasing yields. The second planting is now being picked and is producing well. Demand and prices have followed suit.
Although first plantings of summer squash got off to a slow start, the warm weather and sunny skies in June and July pushed growth into high gear, allowing the crop to get back on schedule. Cucumbers similarly started slowly but made up lost ground and are increasing in volume. Prices have been very good.
Thanks to innovative methods utilized by some of our farmers, including plastic and row cover, Connecticut was the first state in New England to harvest sweet corn this year. The first picking began right on target, June 28, and brought very good quality, demand and volume.
The rest of the sweet corn crop is on schedule. The July market has been tight, but we expect production to be in full swing the first week of August. More growers have opted to wholesale this year, so we anticipate good wholesale volumes.
Peppers and eggplant have been appearing at farmstands and farmers markets since mid-July. Wholesale availability is increasing and is expected to continue to rise in coming weeks.
Connecticut's greenhouse tomatoes are an important crop because they fill consumer demand before field tomatoes ripen. This year they proved especially valuable due to the rainy spring. The vast majority of our greenhouse tomatoes have been sold directly to consumers.
Field tomatoes are ripening slightly later than usual this year but are quickly catching up. The first fruits are available at farmstands and farmers markets, much to the delight of Connecticut residents, who await them every year with great anticipation. Wholesale availability is expected to increase over the next several weeks.
Early-season apples, including Paula Red and Ginger Gold, should be available to wholesale markets the first week in August, right on schedule. Size, quality and quantities of all apples are expected to be very good.
Wholesalers can look forward to continued increases in volume throughout the summer and fall as crops get back on schedule and production maximizes, resulting in larger profits for producers, wholesalers and retailers alike.
Farmstands and farmers markets currently are in full swing and experiencing excellent sales. Connecticut's farmers markets are at an all-time high, with 82 markets located throughout the state. Eight new markets opened this year alone, and the trend is expected to continue as consumer awareness about the benefits of buying local continues to increase.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has been working to help consumers identify local products and to help producers market these products through development of the "Connecticut Grown" logo and branding.
Price cards bearing the "Connecticut Grown" logo are offered to producers free of charge, and are distributed at a rate of about 200,000 pieces each year. As the "Connecticut Grown" point-of- purchase program continues to gain momentum, this figure is expected to increase.
The "Connecticut Grown" logo also is used in our Joint Venture Grant Program. This ongoing program offers a state match of 75 percent to applicants' 25 percent funding for the development and implementation of programs directly related to marketing or promoting "Connecticut Grown" products.
Other exciting news from Connecticut includes the recent passage of Public Act 05-228, An Act Concerning Farmland Preservation, Land Protection, Affordable Housing & Historic Preservation. This landmark legislation provides funding for a variety of valuable programs, including:
--- Matching grants to municipalities to help further agricultural viability.
--- Matching grants to farmers and certain agricultural organizations for diversification of farm operations, transitioning to value-added agricultural production and sales, and developing farmers markets or other venues where agricultural products can be sold.
--- Funds for creating and maintaining the Connecticut Farm Link Program, which will include a database of agricultural land or operations for sale in the state and a database of people interested in purchasing such land or operations.
--- Funding for encouraging the sale of "Connecticut Grown" food to schools, restaurants, retailers and other institutions and businesses in the state.
--- Additional funding for current farmland preservation programs.
In summary, it has been a challenging season for Connecticut's farmers, but as always, they have risen to that challenge and worked hard to overcome the obstacles in their way. Thanks to our farmers' yankee ingenuity, perseverance, long hours and love of the land, wholesalers, retailers and consumers can look forward to the excellent quality and production they have come to expect from "Connecticut Grown."
(F. Philip Prelli is Connecticut's commissioner of agriculture. For more on Connecticut, see the Aug. 14 issue of The Produce News.)
Then came the rain. Then came more. And still more.
The entire state experienced much heavier-than-normal precipitation throughout May and June. Vegetable production areas were soaked, making field work nearly impossible for most of those two months. Spring was very challenging for Connecticut's farmers.
Weather has improved significantly, however, and we are pleased to report that most crops have caught up or are catching up and returning to schedule. Over all quality, production and prices have been or are expected to be good to excellent.
Connecticut's strawberry season began late due to the excessive precipitation, but quality was very good, and both wholesale and retail demand was high. The blueberry crop has been exceptional, and it came in right on schedule. Raspberries also came in on schedule and with very good quality. As a result, we experienced a rare-but-welcome "berry triple-header" for Independence Day weekend.
Other early-season crops such as beets, lettuce and greens were extremely impressive. The cool wet spring actually was a boon to these crops, and it created a longer-than-normal season, helping to fill in gaps where other crops got off to a lethargic start.
The wet spring was unkind to the first planting of green beans, delaying harvest and decreasing yields. The second planting is now being picked and is producing well. Demand and prices have followed suit.
Although first plantings of summer squash got off to a slow start, the warm weather and sunny skies in June and July pushed growth into high gear, allowing the crop to get back on schedule. Cucumbers similarly started slowly but made up lost ground and are increasing in volume. Prices have been very good.
Thanks to innovative methods utilized by some of our farmers, including plastic and row cover, Connecticut was the first state in New England to harvest sweet corn this year. The first picking began right on target, June 28, and brought very good quality, demand and volume.
The rest of the sweet corn crop is on schedule. The July market has been tight, but we expect production to be in full swing the first week of August. More growers have opted to wholesale this year, so we anticipate good wholesale volumes.
Peppers and eggplant have been appearing at farmstands and farmers markets since mid-July. Wholesale availability is increasing and is expected to continue to rise in coming weeks.
Connecticut's greenhouse tomatoes are an important crop because they fill consumer demand before field tomatoes ripen. This year they proved especially valuable due to the rainy spring. The vast majority of our greenhouse tomatoes have been sold directly to consumers.
Field tomatoes are ripening slightly later than usual this year but are quickly catching up. The first fruits are available at farmstands and farmers markets, much to the delight of Connecticut residents, who await them every year with great anticipation. Wholesale availability is expected to increase over the next several weeks.
Early-season apples, including Paula Red and Ginger Gold, should be available to wholesale markets the first week in August, right on schedule. Size, quality and quantities of all apples are expected to be very good.
Wholesalers can look forward to continued increases in volume throughout the summer and fall as crops get back on schedule and production maximizes, resulting in larger profits for producers, wholesalers and retailers alike.
Farmstands and farmers markets currently are in full swing and experiencing excellent sales. Connecticut's farmers markets are at an all-time high, with 82 markets located throughout the state. Eight new markets opened this year alone, and the trend is expected to continue as consumer awareness about the benefits of buying local continues to increase.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has been working to help consumers identify local products and to help producers market these products through development of the "Connecticut Grown" logo and branding.
Price cards bearing the "Connecticut Grown" logo are offered to producers free of charge, and are distributed at a rate of about 200,000 pieces each year. As the "Connecticut Grown" point-of- purchase program continues to gain momentum, this figure is expected to increase.
The "Connecticut Grown" logo also is used in our Joint Venture Grant Program. This ongoing program offers a state match of 75 percent to applicants' 25 percent funding for the development and implementation of programs directly related to marketing or promoting "Connecticut Grown" products.
Other exciting news from Connecticut includes the recent passage of Public Act 05-228, An Act Concerning Farmland Preservation, Land Protection, Affordable Housing & Historic Preservation. This landmark legislation provides funding for a variety of valuable programs, including:
--- Matching grants to municipalities to help further agricultural viability.
--- Matching grants to farmers and certain agricultural organizations for diversification of farm operations, transitioning to value-added agricultural production and sales, and developing farmers markets or other venues where agricultural products can be sold.
--- Funds for creating and maintaining the Connecticut Farm Link Program, which will include a database of agricultural land or operations for sale in the state and a database of people interested in purchasing such land or operations.
--- Funding for encouraging the sale of "Connecticut Grown" food to schools, restaurants, retailers and other institutions and businesses in the state.
--- Additional funding for current farmland preservation programs.
In summary, it has been a challenging season for Connecticut's farmers, but as always, they have risen to that challenge and worked hard to overcome the obstacles in their way. Thanks to our farmers' yankee ingenuity, perseverance, long hours and love of the land, wholesalers, retailers and consumers can look forward to the excellent quality and production they have come to expect from "Connecticut Grown."
(F. Philip Prelli is Connecticut's commissioner of agriculture. For more on Connecticut, see the Aug. 14 issue of The Produce News.)
