Growers of beets are optimistic about the upcoming Texas season, with an expectation for good tonnage thanks to favorable weather and soil conditions. The season is about to start and should continue well into the middle of the year for the Red beets and a little earlier for the other varieties, including Golden and Candystripe beets.
"We're really excited for the upcoming season," said Tyler Morgan, of Morgan and Sons Farms in Texas. "Beets are our main crop and we grow hundreds of acres of Red, Golden and Candystripe beets on our farms. Our harvest will begin in a few weeks on December 15 but already we are very pleased with what we are seeing in the fields. The tops and bulbs are looking great and we expect a very big tonnage this year. The BRIX (sweetness) levels have also been very high compared with the average in tests we have conducted, with readings at 12.5 on average. Favorable growing conditions as well as our soil management have contributed to the positive outlook, as well as lower insect pressure this season. Availability for the Red beets will carry through right up until September which is when our supplies reduce when Canada enters the market."
Colored varieties going into high end markets
Morgan said that the Golden and Candystripe beets are popular in higher end markets, which include specialty stores as well as restaurants. Being a lower volume crop, they attract a high cost and therefore are less in demand to general consumers compared with the traditional red variety. "We ship our beets all over the US and into Canada," said Morgan. "The market is looking very good right now and we expect prices to trend up once Canada exits the market in early January. Current prices are variable but are in the $7-$12 range, which is fairly normal for this time of year. Given the Red beets are the heavier crop, the Golden and Candystripe varieties are more expensive. Golden beets tend to go for around 25% more than the Reds, while Candystripe are 50% more. Golden beets have a less earthy taste than the Reds and also taste sweeter. Candystripe beets are usually found in specialty stores as well as high-end restaurants where customers are attracted to the colors and the flavor twist on the traditional beet."
New products improve beets market potential
Beets are being increasingly used in value-added products. This, combined with more innovative packaging options, gives beet growers confidence in a sustained market for the vegetable."We're always looking to increase business and find new ways to market the product and give consumers more options when it comes to buying them," Morgan continued. "We have now started selling them in clamshells as well as 1lb 'beet bags'. There is also the Mixed Beet Bag, which is 2lb and contains a mix of Red, Golden and Candystripe varieties. We also sell a 25lb mixed beet bag for the foodservice industry. We are very excited about the beet market and we see continued potential as an ingredient in salads as well as other products such as fried beets."
For more information:
Tyler Morgan
Morgan and Sons Farms
Tel: +1 956-225-0311