As New Jersey moves through its summer sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumber crops, one grower-shipper is also beginning its transition to fall items including hard squashes (acorn, butternut, spaghetti, kabocha) as well as leafy greens, cabbages, and its full line of wet vegetable commodities. "There's an increase in acreage here for the fall and our production is probably up about 20 percent," says Bill Nardelli Sr. of Nardelli Brothers.
The timing of the crops coming on for fall looks to be about right on time–even with some weather challenges. "We had an extremely hot and dry summer with a lack of rainfall, though we are totally irrigated using three types of irrigation," he says Nardelli Sr.
Meanwhile with Hurricane Helene set to touch down in the southeast as of press time, Nardelli Brothers is watching the storm closely given it also has operations in both Florida and Georgia. "We are expecting some significant weather events over the next three or four days and we're talking to a lot of our farm partners and growers in that area who are asking if we have the capabilities to help them if they have supply issues which we'll try to do," says Nardelli Sr.
"Fall plantings of corn and tomatoes will be affected by the rain and wet conditions and that will linger," Nardelli Sr. says.
Wet conditions ahead
In Florida, commodities just starting to harvest include beans, squash, peppers, and cucumbers. "There's some risk there of course. Then fall plantings of corn and tomatoes will be affected by the rain and wet conditions and that will linger," he says.
As for demand for these vegetable items, while it traditionally is softer following the start of the school season again, once consumers return to their regular fall routines and begin cooking at home more regularly again, demand tends to pick up as of about the end of September. "Customers are prioritizing their purchases because overall, there's less money in circulation right now. Consumers are being very particular about how they spend their money. I think that some of that will get a little better after the election and the uncertainty of not knowing what direction things are going," Nardelli Sr. adds.
For more information:
Bill Nardelli Sr.
Nardelli Brothers
Tel.: +1 (856) 447-4000
https://nardellibrosinc.com/