CASTROVILLE, CA - Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away for us here in the States, and one produce item I know will accompany that turkey in the oven is celery. Oft used for its delicious stewing capabilities, the category has extended its reach to several trendy applications amongst consumers, and Ocean Mist® Farms is gearing up to meet this incremental demand.
“Market conditions have changed substantially for this crop over the past week or so. The market is trending higher than in years past, and it was oversupplied all summer, so this lift in the market is a welcome sight,” John Chobanian, Commodity Account Manager, tells me. “The Salinas program will take us into the Thanksgiving holiday, so we are anticipating the demand coming in the following weeks.”
Ocean Mist’s celery crops will be harvested out of the Salinas Valley until the end of November. From there, the grower will be making the transition to Coachella, California. The grower is expecting quality and supply to remain strong through Thanksgiving, which is great news for home cooks and buyers this season leading up to the holiday.
“The timing for Thanksgiving couldn’t be better. Ocean Mist’s volume is up for the holiday but is steady year over year,” continues John. “The weather has cooperated with the crop for the most part. There were a few very hot weeks, but our November crop is in very good shape.”
While Mother Nature was feeling both hot and cold over the past few months, a few growers have reported quality issues with celery. Based out of the Oxnard region, the growers say they have been experiencing fusarium amongst their crops. However, Ocean Mist is putting up an excellent carton of celery with good weight, color, and condition.
Stick with ANUK as we lay out the festive holiday feasts full of fresh produce stuffing.
