Supplies of broccoli from Mexico are steady right now.
“There’s enough supply but I think the supply is less than last year at this time,” says Michel Veyan Reed of Babia based in San Antonio, Tex. “Fewer growers planted broccoli this year. Last year wasn’t a good year for many growers. There was too much supply and not enough demand for what the supply was. That affected things and many crops were lost.”
While Mexico has had some cold temperatures this season affecting things, this week the weather’s been warmer than normal notes Veyan Reed and that’s affected the quality somewhat. Mexico grows broccoli year round, though its peak seasons are October-November until late April to early May.
Meanwhile Veyan Reed also says demand for broccoli has been low. “It has been a bit slow and I think it’s because of the cold weather that’s affected the Northeastern U.S. and Canada. The demand doesn’t match the supply from Mexico,” he says. “Usually the first two months of the year it’s very cold in the Northeast US and Canada making the market slow, but sometimes there are little windows where the markets are high those months. But this year’s cold weather and storms have affected the demand whether it’s people going out to buy it or going out to eat.”
California rain effect
At the same time, what is helping demand for Mexican broccoli are the rains and cold weather that California, a key competing broccoli growing region, is experiencing. “It has affected their supply and quality so that’s why the market hasn’t dropped drastically,” says Veyan Reed.
All of this puts pricing currently between $9-$11 FOB, which is somewhat higher than last year at this time.
Looking ahead, Veyan Reed sees continued steady supplies of better quality broccoli. “But I also think there’s going to be a gap in supplies from California because of weather conditions,” he says. “I don’t think there’ll be enough supply in a few weeks.”
For more information:
Michel Veyan Reed
Babia Produce
Tel: +52 1 (871) 211 6851
[email protected]
www.babia.com.mx