A brief spell of unfavorable weather in late-April could result in a slight dip in volume for New York cabbage growers. But with no other weather setbacks, a season with adequate volumes of cabbage is anticipated.Although harvesting doesn't begin in New York until mid-June, early signs point to a decent crop, said Ed Hansen of Hansen Farms in Stanley, New York. Though it's difficult to predict how quality will be until harvest, he anticipates both quality and volumes to be similar to previous years.
“The crop is in pretty good shape,” he said. “Generally, cabbage from our region is pretty good, and we have had no quality issues so far.” He did note, however, that production could fluctuate in July as a result of weather issues during planting.
“There was rain and some snow in April, so we sat on the sidelines for a couple of weeks,” he said. That gap in planting, according to Hansen, could result in a similar gap during harvesting in July. But other than that, there have been no significant setbacks.
That lack of obstacles is a good sign, according to Dave Walczak of Eden Valley Growers in Eden, New York. Late-April weather notwithstanding, he said the climate has been cooperative.
“We should have normal volume, and quality looks great,” he said. He noted that prices for cabbage have dropped recently, but he's not sure if that trend will continue.
A growing concern for growers going forward is the labor supply for harvest. While both Walczak and Hansen said they have not been shorthanded thus far, they admit it's a problematic issue.
“Labor issues are always a concern,” said Walczak. “Because of immigration laws, we always make sure we have all proper documentation. We plan as best we can for that.”
But as Hansen pointed out, sometimes certifying one is compliant is an obstacle in itself.
“We haven't been affected by labor issues, though I know of other growers who have had labor shortage problems. We're compliant, but, as with any fresh market crop, it's difficult to be compliant.”