Florida okra production hit by rain and cool weather

Supplies of okra have hit a few bumps as Florida experiences heavy rainfall. But it's not the rain that's the main issue, but rather the cooler than average temperatures that are slowing down growth. This comes at a time when Florida is one of the only regions producing okra right now.

"Okra production is now centered around Homestead, now that offshore supply has dried up," said Chris Gach of Flavor 1st Growers and Packers. "The rain in recent days has made it difficult to get in the fields to harvest, while the cooler temperatures have slowed down plant growth. Rain itself is not unusual for this time of year, however the temperatures have been cooler than average. We are confident that as soon as the weather clears up, we will see good volume once again."

The market for okra has remained steady, thanks to the balance of supply and demand for the product. Growers expect that this will remain so, especially while the rains and cooler weather stifle production. Predictions are that prices will drop once volume picks up again and the Florida season gains momentum.

"The market has been floating around $14.00 for the past two weeks and we expect this to continue on," Gach observed. "Prices are expected to drop to the $10.00 - $12.00 range once supply picks up again. The Homestead season just started about a month ago and will continue through to October, at which point we will begin sourcing okra from Honduras again."

Packaging may serve a purpose of convenience for customers, as well as giving an opportunity to suppliers to promote their product better. With okra, packaging goes beyond these reasons, serving as a way to protect the delicate vegetable in transit. 

"Flavor 1st packages okra in a tray and then we overwrap it," Gach explained. "This keeps the air off it and helps to improve shelf life. When okra is exposed, for example in open crates in a truck, the top layer often gets damaged and discolored. It's also important to keep the temperatures steady, because okra is delicate and can be easily spoiled. Packaging in general is creating a greater interest from consumers and we are definitely seeing a move towards more convenient and value-added packaging options."

For more information:

Chris Gach

Tel: +1 (828) 890-3630