The California spinach season is now well established in the Salinas Valley and will continue to be until well into the Fall when production transitions back southwards. The weather presented some challenges earlier in the growing season, although recent weeks have been more stable for growers closer to the coast.
"Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, we are able to have a year-round spinach program spread across California and Arizona," said Mark McBride of Coastline Family Farms. "Our Salinas Valley season is in full swing now, starting in April and finishing up in November when we transition back to the California and Arizona desert regions. Despite the relatively moderate climate in Salinas, you don't want to be far away from the coolers when harvesting in the summer because spinach leaves are tender and need to be kept fresh and cool. We have faced a few short-term challenges due to erratic weather, but in the last month or so, it seems to have settled into a nice pattern, with day time highs in the 70s and night time temperatures in the 50s."
Locally grown spinach causes California to ease production
Growers say the spinach market is strong right now, with prices slightly better than last year. Demand on the traditional spinach is holding well and is providing growers with a positive outlook. It is however, the time of year when more locally grown produce. Therefore, many California spinach producers tend to ease off their production during the peak of the summer season.
"California volume tends to decrease in the summer due to the influence of home-grown areas," McBride observed. "Spinach is a quick growing product and we see more and more of the home-grown regions each year. It's at this time that California producers tend to moderate their production."
"The market is pretty decent right now, maybe even better than at this point last year," he continued. "We have a loyal following which helps but overall, it's been a very positive season so far. The mainstream traditional spinach is still enjoying good movement and steady demand."
For more information:
Mark McBride
Coastline Family Farms
Tel: +1 (831) 755-1430