Just FYI, tomato market report released today.
With the excessive rains and hail storms experienced during the last couple of weeks, the Florida tomato industry is basically a disaster. Followed closely by bell peppers, corn, squash and beans. Many growers have decided not to harvest some acreage due to excessive hail damage, in some cases hundreds of acres.
Round tomato supplies are very light and declining with the 6x6s and 6x7s being impacted the most. Prices continue to climb daily while quality concerns increase rapidly. The initial concern at this time is the negative impact the weather has had with the remaining tomato crop in Florida. Many can expect in excess of 40% shrink. Romas and grapes have also been impacted with rising markets, declining quality such as softness, splitting, etc. Grapes actually encountered the least amount of problems from the weather. Due to these conditions the Ruskin/Palmetto growing will be finishing early this year.
We can expect the Quincy growing to be delayed by a few weeks as well as the Carolinas. Arkansas is expected to begin some production the end of the second week of June through the third week of July.
Mainland Mexico is basically finished for the season, while Baja has just begun production but with very limited supplies. California only has one grower producing field grown rounds tomatoes as this time and they will complete production by the first of next week. We do not anticipate the desert production of California beginning production till the end of June.
These conditions during the seasonal growing transitions will more than likely cause very high prices, very limited supplies and very inconsistent product quality through the entire supply chain, for the month of June!
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Six Golden Grape: About a dozen fruit set and ready to ripen, many blossoms; indeterminate
Two Beafsteak: no fruit yet yet about two dozen blossoms; indeterminate
One Black Prince: About half dozen fruit set in the 1.5 - 2" range; indeterminate
Should be good to go
:-)
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