CALIFORNIA - The cauli-coaster continues to take us for a ride as the industry transitions for the Western spring/summer season. Demand continues to push forward, and with it some prices, crystalizing one steady fact: this is a vegetable that keeps us coming back. Wyatt Maker, Ocean Mist® Farms’ Commodity Account Manager, Cauliflower, took some time to help me pin down the feisty category.
“Demand is good right now and is expected to remain strong the next three weeks on both conventional and organic,” Wyatt forecasted. “Conventional will finish in Coachella, California, on April 2 and start in Castroville, California, the week of March 28. We look to be on target with our budget and organic will finish the week of April 5 and start up in Castroville the week of April 11.”
He shares that, when it comes to impacts amid transition, buyers should note the many revolving parts of moving crews and equipment around when starting and finishing multiple areas.
“It’s important to get orders on the books in advance; we are always looking for ad opportunities to promote business with our strong retail partners,” he shared.
It also helps to get ahead with the potential for gaps in the category, especially with the fluctuation in weather many Western growing regions experienced this past winter.
“Pricing is higher this year compared to last year at this time,” Wyatt observed. “The erratic weather in the desert has created a growing gap and quality issues. As an industry, that has pushed prices up to the mid-twenty range.”
In the coming weeks, Wyatt advised FOBs should come down a bit to the upper teens—low twenty range for conventional cauliflower and upper twenty range on organic cauliflower.
Ocean Mist Farms offers a strong value-added veg line that includes Cauliflower Florets in both retail and foodservice packs. The 10 oz retail pack in the grower’s Season & Steam line is both microwaveable and customizable for consumers to add their preferred seasonings, while the 10 oz fresh-cut retail pack is available in the more common microwaveable packaging.
For foodservice, Ocean Mist offers both a 2 lb and 3 lb fresh-cut foodservice pack. This comprehensive cauliflower product line is an edge to the entire buy-side and its customers in a dynamic category.
Likewise, AndNowUKnow will keep you forewarned and forearmed on the active ride that is the fresh produce industry, so stay tuned.
