Organic and conventional lettuce shipments are underway out of Ventura County, California. “The growing season has been almost ideal for romaine and leaf lettuce, and ourselves and other shippers are up and running here,” says Tom Deardorff, II of Deardorff Family Farms.
The move to Ventura County for the grower-shipper follows last year’s Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV), significantly affecting lettuce production in the Salinas Valley. “We do not have that down here, so that’s why ourselves and some others decided to plant here,” says Deardorff. “Also, we don’t have the Canadian restrictions on exporting from our county that other areas have with respect to food safety issues. It’s back to a more normal marketplace as far as supplies go.”
Organic romaine (seen here) and other lettuces are shipping right now out of Ventura County.
In August, the Canadian government released temporary licensing rules for importers of U.S. romaine lettuce beginning September 28 through December 20, 2023. During that time, importers of romaine lettuce and/or salad mixes containing romaine lettuce from the U.S. must declare that the product does not originate from several counties, including Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Monterey in the Salinas Valley.
For Deardorff Family Farms, production of organic and conventional lettuce will stay in Ventura County until the first of the year.
Steady lettuce shipments
Meanwhile, demand is good for both organic and conventional lettuce. “So far, the quality is there, and it’s shipping and arriving well, so we’re hoping to keep the momentum going,” Deardorff says.
Around November 1, celery production will start in Oxnard.
Given the supply levels are more normal this year, pricing is less than 2022 pricing, but it’s still strong and should stay at this level, given demand will likely increase as the holidays get closer. “Things are more on an equilibrium this year than last,” he adds.
In addition, around November 1, the grower-shipper will also start celery production in Oxnard, California. “Things look pretty good. We’ve got a few issues in the fields, but mostly, it looks like it will start with decent quality and supplies for the celery transition as well,” Deardorff says. That said, it is an El Nino year, so it’s anticipated that that may impact fruit and vegetable production, particularly on the coast.
These different growing regions is something the grower-shipper will discuss at next week’s Global Produce & Floral Show, October 19-21, in Anaheim, California. “We’ll be communicating our availability and how we’re sourcing now,” says Deardorff. “On organics, different districts have different issues, and we’ve gone to a multi-district strategy with products in Santa Maria, Ventura County, and Mexico. Oftentimes, we’re overlapping to make sure we keep our customers on consistent supply of organics.”
For more information:
Tom Deardorff
Deardorff Family Farms
Tel.: +1(805) 487-7801
https://www.deardorfffamilyfarms.com/