SANTA MARIA, CA - The prep for spring promotions has already hit the Northern Hemisphere, and buyers are looking to connect with supply-side partners with a nimble go-to-market strategy. As the transition from Yuma, Arizona, to California continues, we connected with companies that fit that description to get a feel for current market conditions.
Speaking with Crystal Chavez of Gold Coast Packing, I got the scoop.
“Most of our broccoli will be back in the Santa Maria, California, growing region next week. We will still be pulling a bit out of the desert with that expected to end at the beginning of April,” the Marketing Coordinator told me. “Our cauliflower is grown 100 percent in the Santa Maria Valley year-round. Spinach will wrap up in the desert this week, while our cilantro will wrap up in the desert next week.”
Supply on broccoli is looking steady, with cauliflower projected to be tight for the next week. Spinach and cilantro are in steady supply, and seeing a smooth transition from the desert.
“Overall, quality across our categories is looking pretty good,” Crystal reported.
She also noted that, for Gold Coast Packing, there haven’t been any fluctuations across the categories.
Weather too has been roughly in step with timelines, with only a brief spat of cold weather pushing back timelines.
“Colder weather caused some gaps, and we were off schedule for a bit, but we are closing the gap now,” Crystal noted. “Weather in Santa Maria has been warm and warmer temperatures are expected this week, so that should push things along as well.”
We’ll continue to keep you up to date on the latest in market news, so stick with AndNowUKnow for more.
