MR. GREENS "FRESH TIPS"
March 9, 2001
Our last PRODUCE PUZZZZLE dealt with fruit: A few weeks ago, we learned that the lemon is best ripened after it has been picked, but what fruit cannot be picked when ripe? It must be picked green. Actually, this fruit, if left on the plant to ripen, will rot before it ripens. This fruit is the most handled fruit in the world, yet, still is one of the cheapest fruits to buy. It's loaded with potassium, too. That's right, the Banana is picked dead green from the plant, and then is allowed to ripen. This week's PUZZZZLE deals with root vegetables: Is Ginger Root a root vegetable? See next week's "Fresh Tips" for the correct answer.
RAIN & COLD: You may be surprised, but season to date, Southern California has received more rain than Seattle and Portland this year combined. It's raining where it shouldn't be, and it's not raining where it should be. In Southern California, Strawberry fields, Avocado and Citrus Orchards are in full production. Well, at least they should be. But you can't pick Strawberries, Avocados or Citrus when it is wet. That has really hampered supplies, causing unusually higher than normal prices, even for this time of year. On the other hand, the Northwest should be receiving rain this time of year. Apple and Pear trees need the rain. And, almost as important, the reservoirs need the water. Those reservoirs will be supplying electricity to the West Coast this summer. With lower levels at those reservoirs, power may again be in very short supply this summer. We have seen spikes in prices, with some supply shortages with Oranges and Lemons, mainly because harvesters can't get into the orchards to harvest. Same with Avocados. For Strawberries, any berry with color, if it is rained on, quickly melts. Berry fields need several days of dry weather and sunny conditions, to start production again. The cold in the lettuce-growing region of Yuma, Arizona and El Centro, California, has meant slower growth of the lettuce. That will affect size and weights, which is what we are seeing right now. That certainly will affect yields as well. What magnifies the problem is processors. Instead of using 2 heads of lettuce for their bagged salads, they may have to use 3 or 4. Well, simply put, that's either 50% or 100% more raw product used for the same amount of end product. That magnifies the price pressure on Iceberg and Romaine lettuces. Don't have sticker shock when you walk into the produce department, but expect to see much higher than normal pricing, even for this time of year.
BELL PEPPERS: We mentioned last week that Bell Pepper prices, even for this time of year, are very expensive and the quality is marginal at best. These are some of the highest prices I have seen for Green Bell Peppers in many years. Not only has weather played a part in quality this year, but economics as well. Growers in Mexico simply didn't plant as many acres (although in Mexico, they grow in hectares, not acres) as they have in past years. Even the banks in Mexico are cutting back funding for growers who have lost money over the past few years. Because Green Bell Peppers have been so expensive, growers have been harvesting their Red and Gold Bells before full maturity. You did know that, except for hot house varieties, a Green Bell Pepper is simply an immature Red or Gold variety. Since growers are going into the colored bell fields to pick early, that's obviously affecting Red and Gold supplies. Some West Coast buyers are actually taking a look at bells from Georgia and Florida. It is rare that East Coast bells make it to the West Coast. When it does, you know there are major problems in the fields. It looks like supplies will be short through the remainder of the winter season, right into April and May when West Coast domestic production should start. Quality has been suffering, with the bells showing a tremendous amount of weakness to the wall and to shelf life. The best quality and value for colored bells will be from hot house growers.