The supply of lettuce looks to be consistent for this time of year. “In general, we are on track to meet and exceed last year’s shipments,” says John Amaral, Sales Manager with The Nunes Company, Inc. “The warm weather in December has allowed for a healthy crop and good yields.”
Overall, the crop had good sizing with great quality across the board. “As January came upon us, Mother Nature threw seven to 10 days of cold weather and heavy field freeze,” says Amaral. “The region is currently experiencing a wet weather pattern that will no doubt be a challenge in the future. As always, our team will work to supply our customers with the best quality product available in the industry daily.”
The grower’s season began in early November out of Yuma, Arizona, and then in mid-March, production moved to Huron, California. The industry also sees products from the Imperial Valley, California, and Mexico.
Cold temperatures slow movement
As for demand, like many commodities have been experiencing, demand for lettuce has been sluggish due to the winter weather conditions across the country. “As weather conditions normalize, I am optimistic that our customers will seek healthy eating options daily. Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables should improve,” says Amaral, noting that Foxy and Foxy Organic brand vegetables are available year-round with growing regions in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico.
All of this has left pricing flat with very little fluctuation. However, cost increases continue to be a concern. “Cost increases in all areas have been a challenging aspect of business. As with most of the industry, increases in the cost of labor (all areas), water, land rent, fertilizer, seed, and insurance continue to be a challenge,” says Amaral.
Looking ahead, there is optimism that supply and demand will match up. “If so, we can see upward movement in the pricing structure for iceberg lettuce,” says Amaral.
For more information:
Stephanie Cantero
The Nunes Company, Inc.
Tel.: +1 (831) 751-7510
[email protected]
www.foxy.com