Even following the challenges of Hurricane Helene this season, broccoli supply looks to be moving steadily from North Carolina. "We actually have about 70 percent of the crop in already," says Matt Solana, VP of operations/supply chain with the Jackson Farming Company.
Back in September, the company had just finished its broccoli transplants on the Friday before Hurricane Helene landed. While most of the hurricane-related damage was experienced in western North Carolina, it also left behind nine to 10 inches of rain on Jackson Farming's plantings in the state. "So we lost about 30 percent of the plantings. Then we had all that water to work through and then we went into drought-flood syndrome for most of the year in eastern North Carolina," says Solana. "That said, we had harvest through Saturday and we're right on time for Thanksgiving, albeit with a shorter crop based on the losses on transplants on the front side of the crop and the drought."
Tight broccoli-producing regions
Meanwhile, demand is strong for broccoli. "Product is short in the West, short out of Mexico through Texas and North Carolina was short as well," says Solana. "It's been a short market for the last seven to 10 days."
While demand is likely to be softer next week as it is for many produce commodities the week after Thanksgiving, the week after that it is anticipated to strengthen again and stay on the stronger side through Christmas.
Looking ahead to 2025, Solana is also hoping for a better weather picture for the state's production overall. "Even back in our melon season, we had high temperatures from the time we transplanted in April at a normal time. That brought the crop of melons on extremely early for us in mid-June. We normally start on July 1st," he says. "Then 60 inches of rain occurred throughout July and August and that flooded out things. Then there was the drought and back to Hurricane Helene and then drought again. It's been a year of weather extremes."
For more information:
Matt Solana
Jackson Farming Company
www.jfcmelons.com