Mother Nature continues to play tricks. I mean, who doesn’t expect snow in Southern California? Reports from the West Coast suggest the inclement weather is having the biggest effect on commodities such as lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli and celery.

Cauliflower prices specifically are up 8 percent over the previous week to $32. “In a few weeks, cauliflower markets will shift focus from western Arizona, to central California,” said Mark Campbell, founder and CEO of ProduceIQ. “A good bit of price volatility can be expected from cauliflower markets.”

Mark DeFrancesco, founder and president of 4M Fruit Distributors in Chelsea, MA, died on Friday, Feb. 17, of undetermined causes at the age of 71. 

Superfresh Growers second Washington State EverCrisp apple crop is off to a great start. A rising star born in the Midwest, EverCrisp is now also enjoying a solid retail focus across the coastal and mountain west, south-central, and beyond. EverCrisp’s name comes from its unmatched ability to hold freshness and sweetness, a trait inherited from its parents, Honeycrisp and Fuji. Fans love its powerful crunch and sweet, juicy bite.

Vick Family Farms is thrilled to be heading south to attend the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure show, knowing that it’s always a very production show and all involved expect this year to be once again. 

Circled on the calendar, Turek Farms has been counting down the days to the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure. 

“It’s one of my favorite shows to attend,” said Jason Turek, a partner at King Ferry, NY-based Turek Farms, and its marketing company Cayuga Produce. “SEPC does such a great job of playing host and getting so many retailers, wholesale and foodservice people in the room,” said Turek.  

The California farm lands have needed water to remedy the dry drought areas for the longest time. Well, according to the National Weather Service, here comes more forecasted precipitation and low temperatures for California. 

The California Department of Water Resources reports that the season-to-date precipitation is 150 percent of normal in many areas from the Sierra Nevada. Some temperatures in Southern California recently reached 15 degrees below normal.