Corn supply out of Florida is looking better than it did a month ago. “The heavy rains from September through the end of October caused quality and volume issues but we’re seeing quite a bit of improvement now,” says Rob Reesor of Rouge River Farms.
Production begins in Florida generally the first week in November though this year, the rains and flooding wreaked havoc that month. Florida will harvest corn until almost the end of May and Reesor says generally this year’s crop looks similar to that of 2022.
As for demand, it too looks similar to last year. Corn gets a small demand “bump” for the holidays. “Then the week after is a disaster so it’s kind of a wash,” adds Reesor. Come January, when consumers are looking to eat healthy again in the post-holiday indulging season, that shift comes at the lowest corn volume months of the year--January and February.
Tray-packed versus bulk
For Rouge River Farms, it largely works in tray-packed corn which is a slightly different market than the bulk-packed corn market. “Tray-pack corn has been growing in the past five years and COVID really boosted it,” Reesor says. “I don’t know if that growth has leveled out now though.”
Meanwhile, corn pricing has been very high compared to last year. “That’s because of the relative lack of supply. Quality and supply have been down so the prices have been reflecting that,” Reesor says.
For more information:
Rob Reesor
Rouge River Farms
Tel: +1 (800) RRF-9216
[email protected]
https://www.rougeriverfarms.com/