Supplies are low for squash farmers with only three to four days left in the season, but the market remains decent, according to Jeff Vestal of Fresh Start Produce. “The market is pretty decent on green and yellow squash, but not a lot available in the Carolinas,” said Vestal. “It should be starting in New Jersey and some northern states. They’ve already had some zucchini and yellow squash in New Jersey, but volume should start picking up there.”Consumption was down during the winter months, something Vestal believes was due to the weather as well as low crops. “Squash is such a feast or famine item,” he said. Prices were affected. General market value on squash is $14.00 per case for both fancy zucchini and fancy yellow.
“It was an incredible weather year from the end of November to December down here in Florida,” said Vestal. “It was a year like no one has ever seen in the amount of wind and rain from December to February. Over 20 inches of rain in all three months when we usually only have a couple of inches. It was a pretty big washout for people and there was very little squash available, period. Then, when it came back, everyone had it and you couldn’t give it away.”
Vestal will wrap up his remaining deals after July Fourth, and he thinks market demand up and down the East Coast and Midwest should be high on most items for a few weeks.
“It seems like there’s a little gap between what was all southern vegetable in the South and what’s going on in the North,” said Vestal. “Beans are incredibly tight and short right now, it's the same for good number one peppers as well as for cucumbers. We’re looking to have a more regular season starting next year.”
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Jeff Vestal
Fresh Start Produce