Unseasonably warm weather during winter brought an early start to California's artichoke harvest this spring. With not enough chill hours, volumes suffered.“We really didn't have the high spring volumes we expected,” said Dale Huss of Ocean Mist Farms. “Artichokes require some prolonged cold without frost, and they didn't get it this year, so volumes have just been average.” With peak spring volumes winding down on the Central Coast, warm weather has hastened that wind down.
“Things came earlier than normal,” said Huss. “Though it's been a good crop, it's coming to a fast end because of warm weather.” He believes they'll have ample supplies throughout the rest of the year, but volumes could have been more ample this spring had there not been as mild a winter.
Light supplies have contributed to strong prices. On April 17, prices for a carton of Globe 18s were between $31.61 and $40.55 out of California's Central District, and prices for a carton of Globe 24s were between $30.00 and $36.35.
For more information:
Dale Huss
Ocean Mist Farms
+1 831 633 2144