Supplies of imported snap and snow peas are steadily arriving from Guatemala.
“We’re going to have them pretty much until the end of June, depending on weather,” says Sandy Gatanio of Pompano Beach, Fl.-based Ayco Farms Inc. “Conditions in Guatemala are more favourable to grow snow peas this time of year.”
That said, intermittent rains can affect supplies. “We understand that the past couple of days they’ve had some rain and in the growing areas, it’s not as hot. But our main concerns are going to be the rains,” says Gatanio. “One of our growers was saying the sugar snap pea market is going to get short in the next couple of weeks which means the prices will go up.”
Overall, volume is slightly down from last year which is reflected in market prices—particularly with demand remaining steady. (Late spring demand continues for products such as sugar snaps, which tend to make regular appearances in graduation party platters and more.)
Pricing is steady to good
As for pricing, it remains moderate. “It’s in the $11-$14 FOB range for snow peas. Sugar snaps have been in the $17-$18 give or take a dollar,” he says. “Anything above a $10-$12 and below a $20 price is good for everybody. Growers are not killing themselves and losing money and importers are not struggling to sell the product. It’s a median price.”
That said, Gatanio remains wary of weather for the next couple of weeks in Guatemala. “If we continue to have sporadic rains, we’re okay. We’ll have steady supplies and sugar snaps will be higher in price. Snow peas will be coming steadily,” he says. “If it rains too much, we’ll see quality impacted. Last year we didn’t have rains and we had a tremendous amount of product.”
If the rains are heavy and do damage product, the Guatemalan season may end early, giving a window of opportunity to the next growing region: Peru. “And if Guatemala continues with good weather and product, then they’ll be steady until Peru comes in. And then we’ll have excess product which will bring the market down,” he says. “We’re really on the fence with the weather.”
