Desert Freeze Causes Fresh Produce Prices to Spike
Arizona and California -
By Jordan Okumura
01.23.13
After recent freezes in the desert growing areas of Arizona's Yuma and California's Imperial and Coachella areas, fresh produce prices have revealed a major spike. As of Friday January 18, 2013, Broccoli 14s rose from a 2012 yearly average of $7.93 to $28.63 per FOB. Price on Broccoli Crowns rose from last year's average price of $9.22 to $31.23 on Friday. Romaine 24s jumped from an average price of $8.90 in 2012 to $32. 85, with Romaine Hearts 12s noted at a price of $35.98 compared to the 2012 average price of $11.31. Green Leaf 24s rose from 2012's average of $8.42 to $21.95 for Friday's report. Green onions were 22.75 compared to $8.10 as an average in the previous year.
Broccoli, romaine, red leaf, green leaf and green onions are among the commodities that have doubled and tripled their prices over the 2012 yearly average. On average for 2013, broccoli and romaine have experience a near 180% jump in price versus a 2012 average.
(Numbers are sourced from averages of the USDA Market News Service)Iceberg Wrap 24s were $27.00, up from $9.77. Red Leaf 24s were reported at $23.55, a hefty spike above $7.87 for the 2012 average. Cauliflower 12s rose to $26.75 compared to last year's average of $9.89. Celery 24s and Celery 30s were $24.95, both up from $11.07 and $11.08 respectively.
Grower/shippers are frustrated with the difficulty that they are facing when it comes to covering consistent customers' orders on multiple products. This year most desert crops were well ahead of budgeted harvest dates and then were presented with multiple days of freezing temperatures that created a large gap in supplies and wide spread quality problems. The lighter than normal volumes and the quality problems will take several weeks to get past.
