Supplies of Brussels sprouts are adequate currently though they’re anticipated to tighten over the course of the holiday season.
Tony Wisdom of Skagit Valley Farms and Valley Pride Sales in Burlington, WA. says supplies are coming currently from California, Skagit Valley, WA and Canada with some volume also coming in from Mexico. Supply volumes look similar to last year at this time.
“Part of what’s pushing the supply chain tightness is weather. There’s some cold temperatures landing in Canada that will tighten those supplies in the next 30-45 days,” says Wisdom. “It’s also quite warm still in California which is not always the best for quality or flavor of a sprout. It’s a cool-season crop.”
At the same time, demand continues to grow for the vegetable on both sides of the business. “On the foodservice side, its demand has picked up again. But more and more restaurants continue to use them as a hot and cold dish,” says Wisdom, noting Brussels sprouts are appearing in things like hot and cold salads as well as a side dish to entrees. “There’s also a sprout puree coming into the market a little bit to incorporate into juice blends,” he adds.
The move to pre-packs
Fresh market demand is also steady, thanks in part to developments in the way Brussels sprouts are being offered. “The trend right now is moving towards packaged Brussels sprouts and away from bulk,” says Wisdom, noting Valley Pride itself has shifted as well to offering packaged product in smaller modified atmosphere packaging.
“Food safety has become critical, especially emerging from the pandemic. We hear that from our retail partners and it’s important to continue to push that side of the business,” he says. Additionally, consumers are gravitating towards the other benefits of pre-packed vegetables--the consistent sizing and quality offered in those packs and the fact that shelf life is also extended is drawing them in.
All of this means pricing is even currently, though slightly better than last year at this time due to the broader demand base. “But pricing has to go up. All food production expenses are going up across the board--labor, raw materials, everything is up. So vegetable and fruit prices have to go up. I think they will come up as we turn the corner into the New Year,” Wisdom says. “Large shippers out of California especially are saying they can’t do any better on the cost side so prices have to go up.”
For more information:
Tony Wisdom
Skagit Valley Farms and Valley Pride Sales
Tel: +1 (360) 428 2717
tony@skagitvalleyfarm.com