The short cold snap that swept across Florida in February did have some negative effect on field crops, but according to Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers Produce Sales Inc., headquartered in Cheriton, VA, by April 1 the new crop will be shipping and is expected to be high quality and with good volumes.

“Squash had some issues because the cold shortens — or weakens — the shelf life,” said Cullen. “Peppers had some bloom effect. We were somewhat limited to local sales on these items.

“However, squash and peppers in central Florida will be coming on by April first, and we’re looking at a good and fast turnaround with great quality and volumes,” he added.

Rick McCranie and Calvert Cullen of Northampton Growers.When Cullen spoke to The Produce News on March 19, the company had just finished its St. Patrick’s Day cabbage movement. Cullen explained that the numbers were down this year due primarily to the extremely cold weather and snow in the Northeast.

“People simply won’t go outdoors because they don’t want to fight the snow,” he said. “The week prior to the holiday we had a nice strong push, but prior to that it was somewhat flat. When severe weather occurs, people tend to turn to their freezers rather than going out to shop or to dine.”

He added that as spring evolves and weather improves, produce companies will likely experience a nice strong bump up in business because by then people are tired of being stuck inside and begin craving spring fruits and vegetables.

In mid-March Northampton was moving its full line of Florida produce.

“We’re moving cabbage, peppers, squash and beans,” said Cullen. “Central Florida will start moving on April 1. Once Plant City settles down we’ll move into Georgia. Cabbage will start there on April 15, followed by squashes and then the other crops.”

Northampton Growers does a major job with its commodity crops in all of its growing regions. It follows the seasons from south, central and north Florida to Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and then on to Michigan. It then reverses its growing program and moves back toward the south for year-round supplies.

The company also grows a full line of greens, including kale, collard, mustard and turnip greens, green, wax and flat beans, zucchini and yellow squashes, eggplant, hard squashes such as acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash, sweet corn, cucumbers, pickles, green, onions and more. Its pepper line is comprised of Bell peppers as well as the more trendy peppers like Jalapeño, Cubanelle, finger hots and Hungarian wax.

Cullen’s partner in Northampton Growers is Steve McCready, who also serves as the company’s comptroller.

“We continually update our facilities,” said Cullen. “This is imperative in keeping up with the growing demand and changing times. We produce and pack quality vegetables for distribution to chain stores, wholesale markets and terminal markets throughout the Eastern U.S.”

The company works in cooperation with field inspectors at its operations in Fairfield, NC, Elizabeth City, NC, Moultrie, GA, Norman Park, GA, Hastings, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL.