CENTRAL CA - When a wide-reaching menu makes choices a challenge, there are few sadder lines to deliver and receive than being out of an item a guest has selected. In my case, very recently, a side of promisingly prepped carrots.

Luckily for that restaurant's latest patrons, reports of the category are on the rise with harvest having returned to Bakersfield, California, following the winding down of the Imperial Valley. While the latter is still seeing excellent quality, its volumes are waning as Kern County’s own supply picks up to steady offerings. Good quality is reported here, according to The Source, with pricing trending slightly higher and sizing remaining strong.

“We just recently transitioned back into to the Central Valley/Bakersfield region and the carrot crop looks great!” Lisa McNeece, Vice President of Foodservice and Industrial Sales for Grimmway Farms, confirmed. “We have optimal growing conditions at this time with warmer days and cooler nights. Supplies are plentiful and the market is steady.”

For future menu recommendations, upon hearing my experience Lisa said Grimmway is introducing Carrot Crinkled fries, available in a 5 lb foodservice pack as well in retail in a 13 oz Air Fryer kit.

The USDA concurred that the overall market stands steady. For more granular details, the following is reported for Kern County out of the L.A. Terminal Market:

• Cartons 30 1-lb film bags baby peeled carrots, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 10 5-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 24 2-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 48 1-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• 25 lb sacks (loose), medium 15.00-15.50; jumbo 18.00-18.50
• 50 lb sacks (loose), jumbo 32.00-32.50

Weather Mission shows the North-Central Coast of California highs strengthening over the weekend, with near to slightly above normal temps before a break in heat. A slow-moving low-pressure system passing to the north around next weekend will deepen the marine layer to “June Gloom” levels and cool temps down closer to normal by the week of 6/16, hopefully spelling little potential for harvest disruption.

AndNowUKnow will continue to monitor this and other key categories throughout the industry.