SPRING TRANSITION

During the winter months many growers move their operations from the Salinas and San Joaquin Valley down to Yuma, Arizona and the California desert, think Coachella Valley just south of Palm Springs down through the Imperial Valley to El Centro at the border of Mexico. As the weather warms up historically in March, the growing areas move north from Mexico and the California desert to the Salinas Valley for cooler weather summer veg (Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Celery) and to Fresno for warmer crops (Peppers, Corn, Tomatoes, Beans and Eggplant).

It will be a bumpy road during the transition over the next month. We will see better quality and supply as growers move up north. Leaf lettuces are starting the transition as the desert warms up, resulting in quality issues and pest pressure.  Prices will start to decline on Baby Bok Choy and Broccoli as the weather improves in the northern growing region. Josies’ Regenerative Baby Sweet Broccoli is now coming out Watsonville/Salinas with good quality. Celery is usually the last to transition and will improve once it transitions.

Inclement weather, hotter days, and the end of the season in the desert can result in produce showing more defects and issues than usual, such as aphid pressure. Temperatures in the desert are in the low 80’s this week and historically are in the 100’s by June.