Warm weather causes glut for some Florida crops
Warm weather causes glut for some Florida crops
Unseasonably warm weather in Florida during November and December created at least a temporary glut of fresh produce coming out of fields near the beginning of the year. Although the problem was thought to be working itself out by around Jan. 10, it did cause prices to drop at least temporarily, especially on peppers and tomatoes.
"Demands are also off a little, and that affects prices," Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers in Cheriton, VA, told The Produce News. "We have not seen any weather issues this season in Florida, so yields have been very good. Combined, these factors drive prices down, especially on peppers. Product is being harvested, although some are reporting prices at below the cost of production."
Mr. Cullen, whose company has growing operations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, added that extra-large peppers were selling for about $8 a box, and it takes between $8 and $10 just to break even on all sizes.
"For example," he explained, "we're getting $7 for large sizes and $6 on mediums. But all the sizes combined take the same $8 to $10 range to produce. Prices should be considerably higher on all sizes at this time of year."
The warm weather is not affecting other products as negatively, however. Mr. Cullen said that eggplant and cucumbers have maintained decent prices, but the reason is because much of the supply currently comes in from offshore.
Reggie Brown, manager of the Maitland-based Florida Tomato Committee, said that the current crop is the first normal crop after two years of hurricanes, and prices have not regained profitable levels during that entire time. The heat adds to the problem because of the faster production and increased volume.
"The warm weather has brought the crop along a little faster than it would have otherwise, and that prevents us from stretching out the movement," said Mr. Brown. "Growers of fall tomato crops in Florida suffered the most. We did get a little cool snap on January 10, but the forecast now indicates that it will get back into the 80s in the next couple of days. We would like to see highs back in the 60s and low 70s, and get out of the 80s for a while."
Mr. Brown said that the warm temperatures were being recorded throughout the state, not just in limited regions.
"Many growers are selling at less than cost of production," he added. "But if the market turns around and the weather cools down, some of this can be made up later in the season."
Danny Raulerson, head of marketing for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, said that the problem had begun working itself out by about Jan. 10.
"Planting is done incrementally so that the maturation of crops will occur in the same respect," said Mr. Raulerson. "With the presence of abnormally warm weather, both during the day and at night, the number of days to maturity on all vegetable crops is comparable to spring-like conditions. Sweet corn, for example, is taking 90 days to mature from plant to harvest. Under normal conditions for this time of year, it should take closer to 100 days for the same crop to mature."
Mr. Raulerson added that another possible issue related to abnormally warm weather is the impact that pests and diseases can have on crops. "With the absence of cold weather, normal fungi, bugs and other diseases will probably be more prevalent in the spring," he said.
"Demands are also off a little, and that affects prices," Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers in Cheriton, VA, told The Produce News. "We have not seen any weather issues this season in Florida, so yields have been very good. Combined, these factors drive prices down, especially on peppers. Product is being harvested, although some are reporting prices at below the cost of production."
Mr. Cullen, whose company has growing operations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, added that extra-large peppers were selling for about $8 a box, and it takes between $8 and $10 just to break even on all sizes.
"For example," he explained, "we're getting $7 for large sizes and $6 on mediums. But all the sizes combined take the same $8 to $10 range to produce. Prices should be considerably higher on all sizes at this time of year."
The warm weather is not affecting other products as negatively, however. Mr. Cullen said that eggplant and cucumbers have maintained decent prices, but the reason is because much of the supply currently comes in from offshore.
Reggie Brown, manager of the Maitland-based Florida Tomato Committee, said that the current crop is the first normal crop after two years of hurricanes, and prices have not regained profitable levels during that entire time. The heat adds to the problem because of the faster production and increased volume.
"The warm weather has brought the crop along a little faster than it would have otherwise, and that prevents us from stretching out the movement," said Mr. Brown. "Growers of fall tomato crops in Florida suffered the most. We did get a little cool snap on January 10, but the forecast now indicates that it will get back into the 80s in the next couple of days. We would like to see highs back in the 60s and low 70s, and get out of the 80s for a while."
Mr. Brown said that the warm temperatures were being recorded throughout the state, not just in limited regions.
"Many growers are selling at less than cost of production," he added. "But if the market turns around and the weather cools down, some of this can be made up later in the season."
Danny Raulerson, head of marketing for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in Maitland, said that the problem had begun working itself out by about Jan. 10.
"Planting is done incrementally so that the maturation of crops will occur in the same respect," said Mr. Raulerson. "With the presence of abnormally warm weather, both during the day and at night, the number of days to maturity on all vegetable crops is comparable to spring-like conditions. Sweet corn, for example, is taking 90 days to mature from plant to harvest. Under normal conditions for this time of year, it should take closer to 100 days for the same crop to mature."
Mr. Raulerson added that another possible issue related to abnormally warm weather is the impact that pests and diseases can have on crops. "With the absence of cold weather, normal fungi, bugs and other diseases will probably be more prevalent in the spring," he said.
