The market for spinach from California's Central Coast improved this month as demand has remained strong. While volumes have been fairly steady, some production has been dogged by quality issues stemming from mildew.
“After a couple of dismal months during June and July, the spinach market is looking pretty good,” said Jeff Halfpenny of Talley Farms. “We're glad the previous two months are behind us, and we like where we're at.” On August 14, prices for a carton of spinach from the Central Coast were between $14.95 and $18.00, and demand was reported as fairly good.
Halfpenny noted that volumes have been steady, though he has heard of production problems stemming from abnormal weather. Abnormal conditions disrupt the growing cycle of seed varieties that are bred to very specific weather.
“I've heard of some mildew issues that were caused by some weird humidity we usually don't get,” said Halfpenny. “Different varieties have different mildew influences, so if you find the right seed variety, you're in a great position. But if you don't have the right seed variety, mildew can cause havoc and eat into yields.” As with most growers, the scarcity of water and scarcity of labor are big concerns, but the season is currently in a good spot despite those challenges.
“Everything looks pretty good right now,” said Halfpenny. “We'd like the market to stay where it is.”
