The market for celery has picked up recently, with prices increasing over those seen during winter months. Mild weather brought on supplies quickly, which made it challenging to market celery earlier in the year.“The market rebounded a little because the desert region got out early” said Scott Deardorff of Deardorff Family Farms. “They were ahead in the desert, like they were ahead everywhere, and if you start early, you finish early.” On May 13, prices for a two-dozen carton of celery were between $13.75 and $17.56 out of Oxnard, and cartons of three dozen were priced between $15.75 and $18.05.
“Prices were depressed all winter because districts were coming in on top of each other,” explained Deardorff. “Production exceeded expectations and there were no weather issues to curtail production. But the market's a little better now.” Growers were sitting on production, postponing harvesting because there was so much product available.
“As far as celery goes, it's been a marketing challenge,” said Deardorff. “But the market has now recovered, and, hopefully, it will stay that way through summer.”
For more information:
Scott Deardorff
Deardorff Family Farms
+1 805 487 7801