MR. GREENS "FRESH TIPS"
July 27, 2001
Our last PRODUCE MAN PUZZZZLE dealt with grapes: What grape was originally named "Lady DeCoverly"? How would you like to sell a grape named "Lady DeCoverly?" That's what it was known by in England, where this grape was first grown. Well, John certainly did not like the name, and he didn't think the rough and tough pioneers of California in the late 1800s would buy such a grape named "Lady DeCoverly" either. John was a farmer in Yuba City, in the northern Sacramento Valley in California. Yuba City was the first place that grew this new grape. And John was the first grape grower to graft it into his vineyard. But he just had to change the name. So John named it after himself. John's last name was…Thompson! The Thompson Seedless grape was originally known as the Lady DeCoverly. This week's PUZZZZLE still deals with summer fruit: What is the oldest deciduous fruit tree in California? See next week's "Fresh Tips" for the answer.
— LETTUCE: When you think of microclimates, you tend to think of wine or cigars. But lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower? Micro-climates in the Salinas Valley has helped provide salad to a nation, but not even micro-climates can overcome what Mother Nature has thrown at growers this year. And that is producing some supply gaps with iceberg, leaf lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. And that, of course means higher prices.
"This season has been one big juggling act for growers," says Bill Chaney, Monterey County farm advisor. That juggling act may be frustrating for growers, but has helped stabilize supplies. Without the juggling, supplies would have had wild fluctuations, with even wilder price volatility. The juggling of crops has helped to minimize supply gaps.
Usually, weather patterns in Salinas are within 10 degrees from January to July. Very steady at 70 - 75 degrees. However, this year, in May and early June, temperatures soared into the low to mid 90s. That pushed a lot of crops into early production. For example, a normal crop of lettuce, from seed to harvest, during May and June, is about 70 days. With the very warm temperatures, crops grew 10 days faster, in about 60 days. That 10-day window may not sound like a lot, but to crops and growers, that's a huge amount, causing roller coaster affects for supplies and quality. The warm temperatures equally affected other crops. Cauliflower normally takes around 80 days from transplant to harvest, during that time of year. This year, growers were harvesting after only 70 - 75 days.
Recently, the unusual weather patterns has continued, but on the opposite side. Cooler than normal temperatures in July has slowed growing patterns. Normal temperatures should be in the low 70s, but recent temperatures have been in the low 60s. During July, when harvest should be 60 - 62 days from planting, this year, growers are seeing as many as 70 days before harvest. Warm temperatures may speed growth, increase supplies, but usually causes more quality issues. Cooler temperatures may be the lesser of two evils in this aspect. Growth is slowed, supplies decrease, but quality is improved.
Current supply gaps shouldn't last too long, especially with growers juggling new fields in warmer microclimates in the Salinas Valley. To many people, getting a crop of lettuce, broccoli or cauliflower may seem like a simple process. Plant a seed or transplant. Then harvest. This year's unusual weather patterns prove once again that Mother Nature, more than anything else, determines what we buy, how much it will cost and its quality. Chaney does say that if growers in Salinas were not good at juggling, supplies and prices would have been much worse than they are.