YUMA, AZ & SALINAS, CA - As this season looks to shake up the usual transition schedule from Arizona to California for a number of categories, Ippolito International’s Dan Canales took the time to talk with me about the current and coming shift.

“With us producing over 40 different commodities, we will have various stages of transition dates in the next couple of weeks,” Dan shares with me. In terms of the major commodities, specifically, he says that Ippolito will begin transitioning most to Salinas directly in the weeks of 4/10 and 4/17.

“We are starting approximately five to ten days later than usual on some items,” he added on the status of Salinas at this point in the season. This, in combination with the product growing ahead of schedule in Yuma, has created a challenge for growers.

“With the product being ready much earlier than scheduled in Yuma, as well as the rains during planting in Salinas, it has created some lighter supplies, if not potential gaps, on some items,” Dan explains, adding that Ippolito is rising to the challenge. “We are doing everything possible to minimize these potential holes, by all means available. Mother Nature is really the one controlling this. We won’t be able to eliminate a gap here and there, but we can do a few things to help minimize the impact.”

Dan says that while there were trials earlier through much of the season, Yuma is seeing some good markets more recently.

Hopefully, as California moves further into spring and Salinas begins turning its wheels, we will soon see a more amiable side of Mother Nature for fresh produce. Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow the season throughout 2017 and beyond.

Ippolito International