Copious amounts of rain this spring affected cabbage plantings in several cabbage-producing states this year. In New York, yields have been down, supplies have been light and prices have been strong.“Supplies have been pretty tight this season, and everyone is pretty much in the same boat,” said Eric Hansen of Hansen Farms in Upstate New York. “There was damage to the crops while plantings were young, they couldn't take the water, and now yields are down.” He estimated that yields in New York could be down to about 60 or 70 percent of what they are during normal conditions.
Lower yields have contributed to high prices. On August 25, prices for a carton of round green type cabbage were between $10.00 and $12.00 out of New York. By comparison, Hansen noted that prices per carton were in the $7.00 to $8.00 range at this time last year.
“I'm not sure exactly what will happen, because supplies will depend on what varieties were planted earlier in the season, but I don't think the market will change,” said Hansen. “I don't know if prices will go up, but I don't think they'll come down. We'll take care of our contract customers first to make sure they don't get shorted, and we'll sell the extra stuff and hope higher prices can cover lower yields.”
For more information:
Eric Hansen
Hansen Farms
+1 585 526 5260