Supplies of Brussels sprouts continue to look very tight. “We have very limited supply,” says Bob Montgomery of Guadalupe, Ca.-based Beachside Produce. “The yields are down in the fields and there’s been just a lack of overall supply on sprouts in the industry.”
There are a few factors contributing to this: not only do Brussels sprouts take a long time to grow, but many of the plants were planted back when the rain was hitting California. “So at the beginning of the growing cycle, it went through some bad weather which I think kind of stunted it and made the volume of the sprouts not quite as dense on the plants,” says Montgomery. “That limits the yields that you’re going to get out of those fields.”
More and more popular
At the same time, demand for sprouts continues to grow as it evolves out of being a vegetable for cooler months only. “There are a lot more avenues for sprouts—whether it’s in bags, shredded and more,” Montgomery says. “More and more restaurants for example have them on their menus because it’s becoming more of a year-round item. The whole category is growing.”
Not surprisingly then, the market has been high for at least two months now for Brussels sprouts. “The current market is $56 to $58 FOB. It’s high and it’s been high and I don’t see much relief in that for at least a couple of weeks,” he says. “I expect in the next couple of weeks that supply is going to remain limited and that the market is going to continue to stay high.”
