A supply gap for eggplant caused prices to spike last month, and the market has remained at those prices since then. How the market will react in the Midwest and on the East Coast will depend on production in Georgia, though the market in western states could remain high well into significant production farther east.
“The market took a dip when there was good production from both Mexico and Florida,” explained Ed Lopez with Peter Rabbit Farms in Coachella, California, “but then they got out and there was a little gap between that production and Georgia.” He pointed to a six-dollar upswing in prices as a result of that gap. Since then, prices have not changed as dramatically, and on June 1, prices for a carton of 18s from Coachella were between $14.95 and $18.95.
Strong winds and cool weather in the Coachella Valley also limited production there. But, overall, Lopez said that California production, which will continue through mid-May, has been fairly steady. As the only supply of eggplant on the West Coast, Lopez thinks prices for California product could remain strong even as Georgia ramps up its season.
“Georgia started with their deal over the weekend, so we will see a little less demand from the East and the Midwest,” he said. “But as far as our market goes, we will ride out the season between $14.00 and $16.00 per carton.”
