Califonia’s central coast sees delay in corn crop

“We may not have a corn crop this year because of the funky weather we’ve had here in California,” says Andy Martin of A & A Organic Farms Corp., a Watsonville, Ca.-based marketer of organic produce. He noted that his grower had planted early and had no germination to move the crop ahead and instead opted to grow something else. “I’ve asked him to plant again now that we’ve got warmer temperatures but then we’re waiting for September possibly,” says Martin.

A & A sources corn from nearby growers on California’s central coast located in Hollister, Salinas and Watsonville. “Traditionally our corn season might start at the end of July or something along those lines and we’ll have it for about a month,” he says. The additional challenge with growing organic corn is pest control, namely moths who after repeat plantings, become fast familiar with where the corn crops are.

Southern half picture

That said, while A & A doesn’t source from the southern half of the state, Martin notes that growing regions such as Coachella and Lamont and others in the region are experiencing their normal corn-friendly hot weather. “But up here we’re all delayed a month or so on warm crops just because of the cool spring and the rains,” Martin adds.