Strong supplies of Romanesco are coming out of California right now. “Supply is consistent with, if not better than it was at this point last year,” says Matt Hiltner of Babé Farms.
While the bulk of competing supplies is coming out of the Salinas Valley, Babé Farms grows its product in Santa Maria, California. “What sets our authentic Italian Romanesco apart from our competitors is its coral-like conical turrets--they’re not rounded like others on the market, which really differentiates it from green cauliflower,” says Hiltner.
The grower-shipper also just finished up its plantings in South Baja and began its local Romanesco season in California. “This is right on time with where we would normally make our seasonal transition,” Hiltner says. “Our local season will run from June through December, and then we will move back to Baja in the new year. With Romanesco specifically, it is always difficult to time the seasonal transition from Baja to California without ending up with an excess or shortage of product. Thankfully this year, we timed it well and were able to make a relatively smooth transition.”
Summer Romanesco uses
As for demand, as we move further away from the pandemic, demand does seem to be back to normal for the vegetable, and it continues to draw consistent demand year-round. For summer, the product grows in its versatility, and it can be used in anything from Romanesco “steaks” to salads or even a pickling vegetable.
Hiltner also says that Romanesco is increasingly being included in meal kit subscription services. “This has really brought it into the public eye and made it more accessible for consumers all over the U.S.,” he says. “Meal kits are a perfect way to introduce specialties to consumers since they include detailed recipe instructions. One of the main reasons consumers shy away from specialty vegetables is because they don’t know how to cook them.”
Meanwhile, pricing on Romanesco is low right now due to those stronger supplies, and it’s lower than at this time last year. “Looking ahead, we expect great supplies to continue through the summer,” says Hiltner.
For more information:
Matt Hiltner
Babé Farms, Inc.
Tel.: +1 (805) 925-4144
[email protected]
www.babefarms.com