The supply of Napa cabbage is very good right now. "We produce primarily out of Yuma, Arizona at this time of the year, and supply on the West Coast and Mexico is very very good after getting back to normal in mid-December," says Dan Holt, vice president of sales for Hitchcock Farms. This follows a slow start to the Yuma season under heat and high temperatures in September and October.
Overall, this is a different picture than last year at this time. "This year there's more of a spread between California shipments compared to last year. Last year, there was very little going on in the first and second week of January out of central California," says Holt. "This year though, in the past two weeks, shipments have been more split between the two regions."
Jeff Hitchcock, founder and CEO of Hitchcock Farms, in a Yuma, AZ field last week holding Napa cabbage that this year is near twice the size and weight of what is normally packed.
Year over year on Napa cabbage volume though, there is an increase in the supply and demand of the product thanks to continued category growth. That said, this year's demand has seen some interruptions thanks to cold temperatures around the U.S. "Napa cabbage is a great cold weather item and I think its demand has been more insulated than some of the other salad-centric crops," he says.
Lunar New Year demand
Also with Lunar New Year ahead on January 29, a bump in demand is anticipated thanks to promotional activities on the product. While Hitchcock Farms largely works in the foodservice side of the business, it does have a banded retail pack to capitalize on demand this year. However, in both retail and foodservice, the company continues to promote the nutritional benefits of Napa cabbage and its versatility–using products such as its Napa cabbage hearts in slaws and salads for example.
Year over year on Napa cabbage volume though, there is an increase in the supply and demand of the product thanks to continued category growth.
As for pricing, it is similar to this time last year. "Last year at this time it wasn't as high. This year there are varying reports on pricing from various types of operators," says Holt. "While it does look to be an elevated price level in some areas, it's not the case in other areas. At this point, the market pricing is trending lower. It was higher through the second week in December and then it settled down."
Looking ahead, the supply is anticipated to stay abundant as the desert season finishes up at the end of March or April, depending on weather conditions. "We've got plantings in Salinas, California already underway here for product that will harvest in April and May and they look to be on time and in good condition," says Holt.
For more information:
Dan Holt
Hitchcock Farms
Tel: +1 (831) 424-8952
https://www.hitchcockfarms.com/