Carrot supplies are steady, but slightly lower, out of California. “We’re finishing up our Bakersfield season. We have another couple of weeks to go so supply is a little tighter than it’s been for us,” says Rob Giragosian with Kern Ridge Growers, LLC. “Overall with baby carrots, organic and conventional, we’ve been pretty happy with the yields and we’re covering the business with some to offer out. On the supply side, we’re in good shape.”
At the same time, demand is good for the vegetable. Giragosian notes that some suppliers had shortages which have driven the market since early December. “As everybody gets ready to start the next season, it should shift to a better supply situation industry-wide,” he says. “Carrots historically are one of your cheaper vegetables at the grocery store so we haven’t really seen a decline or a major increase in the overall volume moved. I would think carrots as a commodity aren’t as hurt by a tighter shopping budget. They are more of a staple that I see as beneficial to carrots.”
Costs impacting pricing
This is even with higher pricing this year over last year at this time, though pricing is keeping up with increased production costs and is supply driven.
Looking ahead, California growers are getting ready to cycle to the season out of the Imperial Valley and Giragosian says it will begin in that region in mid-March. However, there may be a supply change in this new growing area. “Finding quality ground with water in California is becoming more and more of a challenge,” he says. “With the costs being what they are, I don’t see people putting in extra acres. They’ll probably plant what they have commitments for and then I don’t see them gambling much after that.”
For more information:
Rob Giragosian
Kern Ridge Growers, LLC
Tel: +1 (661) 854-3156
[email protected]
https://kernridge.com/