Georgia has seen lots of rain and sunshine recently and the expert eyes of grower-shippers say the weather has been favorable for crops.

“The signs that crops are looking good are something you know after 35 years of doing what I do,” said Calvert Cullen, co-owner of Northampton Growers.

Jimmy Myrick, vice president of Edward L. Myrick Produce in Pompano Beach, FL, said, “Barring any weather disasters, we will see a good crop for the Georgia deal.A cabbage field in Georgia illustrates the favorable growing conditions the region has enjoyed this spring. (Photo courtesy of Southern Valley Produce) There is a little bit of excitement for the spring in Georgia. People are ready for nice fresh produce.”

Why are they so ready?

“The feeling in the industry is that it’s been cold in the Northeast all winter,” said Myrick, “It’s been a tough winter for everyone. People were not out shopping and buying during the cold months.”

Now its barbecue time, and people tend to be out with the nicer weather so the growers expect more produce sales.

Cullen agrees, saying, “The expectation is that the harvest will be good in the spring. We don’t expect any adverse weather conditions and crops look good for the next 60 days.”

Things are looking bright from Mike Porter’s vantage point in sales at Flavor 1st. “I would expect to have tremendous quality and quantity for the summer programs,” he said. “Out of Georgia, we should have good crops, they are looking really nice.”

“Georgia has a strong base of produce like sweet corn, squash, cucumber and eggplant, and the expectation is that this season Georgia’s mainstay produce will continue to do well,” Georgia Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black said. “Farmers this year will have brussel sprouts, some will be able to sell every stalk of asparagus they are growing.”

Of the potential challenges this season, Cullen of Northampton feels labor is going to be a concern this season.

“The biggest question is on labor issues,” he said. “As we transition north, the concern is whether we will have enough labor to harvest and pack everything that is being grown. I’m hearing through other people in the industry that there are labor issues up and down the coast.”

Cullen said there seems to be a lack of labor in the United States. “People are not willing to work, that is the problem.”

Porter of Flavor 1st agreed that labor availability is an ongoing concern.

“We have labor concerns on a regular basis,” said Porter. “Flavor 1st has about 225 employees, but on a daily basis 175 to 180 show up. The employees want time off, we work six days a week. Saturdays and Mondays are days we struggle to get help.”

Porter himself is in the office Monday to Friday from 8 to 5 and a half-day on Saturday.

“Our customer base is a lot of retail businesses, so when they are open we need to be open,” he said. “We allow our customers to make changes the same day of shipping as long as it’s feasible for us to do it.”