Scott Bradley of Peninsula Produce & Imports says that weather conditions in Mexico were poor before Patricia’s landfall, but the hurricane itself shoulders most of the blame for a “severely” affected market. “The hurricane they had went right through the blackberry regions,” Bradley explains, noting that the farms his company sources from were in the areas most harshly affected by the category 5 storm.
For Peninsula Produce & Imports, that has meant a major setback in their usual import schedule. “Typically shipments start mid to late October,” says Bradley. “Sometimes they even start in early October.”
But his company’s Brandon, Florida, facilities have yet to see a single blackberry this season. “No shipments yet,” notes Bradley.
Bradley adds that other companies have finally started to receive their first shipments. Meanwhile, Peninsula Produce & Imports’ first deliveries aren’t expected until next week.
For more information:
Scott Bradley
Peninsula Produce & Imports, LLC
Tel: +1 (813) 655-9114
Email: scott@ppiproduce.com