Despite a tight holiday season for broccoli, subsequent demand has not been on par with current supplies.
Volumes of broccoli have been plentiful, according to Ben Wilson of Coastline Produce, with prices reported between $5.50 and $6.50 per case. He adds that current supplies have been more than sufficient for current demand.
“The season was tight around the holidays,” he notes, “but right now it's sluggish. We have lots of product and limited demand.”
He says that the increased volume could be due to a number of reasons, including good growing weather.
Russ Dutra, of Growers Express, agrees that good weather has played a part in the amount of broccoli on the market.
“We've had moderate temperatures,” he says, “and there have been no major incidents or changes in weather which would affect the crop.”
The result, he says, is simply too much supply for what the market demands, a situation which he predicts will continue at least until March.
“Quality has been pretty good,” he says, “but we do have an oversupply.”