The market for vegetables in the US is currently in flux as growers contend with weather and market issues. Growers are also reporting variations in price based on geographic regions and crops.
Greer Farms, which grows leafy greens in Arizona, has experienced a weak market so far.
“Price has been down, pretty much across the board,” says Pete Garcia, Sales Manager at Greer Farms.
“Demand and prices have been down,” he notes, “cilantro has been better, but because of the economy, the demand hasn't been there.”
He adds that, due to the market, they've had to plough over about a quarter of their crops because of weak demand.
“The market is just not good enough to justify the cost to grow on some of what we have,” he says.
On the East Coast, Rick Stauffer, of Seminole Produce Distributing in Florida, says that the market for certain vegetables has been high because of weather-related issues in Mexico.
“The market for cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and eggplant has been good with strong prices because of freeze damage to those crops in Nogales, Mexico,” he says.
But he notes that as the season progresses, and the effects of the freeze go down, prices for those crops should adjust accordingly.
“The market for those has been strong,” he says, “but we should see the prices start to drop off pretty soon.”