<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Arizona and California -</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Jordan Okumura<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">01/07/13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Weather complications have affected vegetable production in the desert regions in Arizona's Yuma and California's Imperial and Coachella areas. Freezing temperatures this weekend have been the harshest yet for the season, taking their toll on production. Some crops were frozen till noon on Saturday and Sunday. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/frosty lettuce.JPG" alt="images010713" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Initially, warmer temperatures in November and December put the deal way ahead of schedule. The 15 degree warmer conditions in November and December caused growers to use up acreage in the regions, Salinas growers confirm. With accelerated growth in the fields, growers had to pull a gap on the desert crop. The younger crop still needed warmth to grow but instead faced freezing conditions in December and this month. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/desert_veg_body_01.jpg" alt="images010713" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The freeze has resulted in a little blistering on the lettuce, causing the epidermis to start to fall apart. Industry wide the desert deal could see reductions of 30% over all crops with broccoli taking a significant hit of approximately 50%. Demand from stores and foodservice companies further motivated growers to accelerate harvest. More cold weather is anticipated this month, which could mean further reductions.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Growers anticipate industry-wide shortages through January.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
