With Georgia’s green beans either finishing or finished, produce reports on green bean supply out of Florida range from “starting to improve” to “tight” out of both Mexico and Florida. “In terms of the green bean supply, it’s tighter due to the rainy days after Irma rather than the hurricane itself,” says Carl Ream, sales and commodity manager of J&J Family of Farms. “The five or six days of heavy rain kept the farmers from getting into the field to plant.”
J&J’s beans are coming out of central and south Florida. Later in the season he says they will also be sourcing from Mexico.
In terms of consumption Ream says green beans, like many other fresh vegetables, are seeing increase in demand. “Various factors have contributed to this, but in the last few years food blogs and food influencers are pushing the importance of fresh vegetable in your diet.” He adds too that pricing is significantly higher than in the last couple of years because of demand. “And, since the rain affected the supply we are seeing higher prices.”
Supplies will increase steadily soon. According to a report dated the week of November 16, the Produce Alliance indicates that Supplies are improving, markets will drop over the next week to week and a half as production ramps up in Florida. Nogales is estimated to start crossing some product early this week.
