Californian growers are fighting another round of devasting storms flooding thousands of acres in the Salinas Valley. This is happening as California farmers were getting ready to kick off the spring growing season. This will impact the U.S. agricultural market economically, and farmers are now left to pick up the pieces. Preliminary crop losses from the current storms are in the hundreds of millions of dollars, making it even more costly than the previous storms back in January.
These storms affect the bottom line of consumer spending at the grocery store in the form of higher food prices. Chris Valadez, the president of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, commented that "People are hurting," these are extraordinary events impacting our farms, but these farmers are highly resilient and will come back stronger.
The movement of blueberries through Arizona, California, and Texas is expected to increase. Trading is fairly active. Prices are generally unchanged. Flats 12 1-pint cups with lids mostly 32.00-34.00. Flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids, mostly 18.00. Weather conditions are having an impact on the growing regions and affecting harvest. Weather conditions and seasonal declines in other growing areas should lead to higher markets next week. Many present shipments from prior bookings and/or previous commitments. Quality is generally good. Chile's imports of blueberries through various east coast ports of entry movement expected to decrease as most growers have finished for the season. Trading is active for light supplies.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov