The supply of green bell peppers out of Coachella, California is peaking right now. "However, it's not in a way that we have too much volume. We should just be stable with our volumes for the next two to three weeks and then we'll start seeing a decrease out of Coachella Valley before we move up to Bakersfield," says Peter Rabbit Farms' Garret Powell, adding that the season started with good volume.
Those peak volumes began last week on acreage in Coachella that for the grower-shipper, is consistent with last year. "The growing conditions have been pretty perfect," he says. "It's a little bit cooler than we have seen in the past but for green peppers, very standard."
Stabilization ahead
What about demand? "A lot of the customers on the West Coast are still hanging onto Mexico, even though we've heard that the quality has faded," says Powell, adding that Mexican pricing can challenge pricing in other domestic regions. "Once Mexico is finished, it should stabilize in the West. Then the volume and quality on peppers in the East from Georgia could change the market."
As for pricing, Powell notes that starting in April, there was a good market on the extra large and large peppers because the sizing wasn't very prevalent coming out of Mexico. "Then as the Coachella volume started to increase, prices dropped and peppers started coming out of northern Florida. They're also starting in Georgia this week and Mexico is still going," he says. In turn, having all districts going has created resistance to better pricing.
Looking ahead, better volume is also expected on Peter Rabbit Farms' eggplant crop, and red peppers will also begin on May 19th.
For more information:
Garret Powell
Peter Rabbit Farms
Tel: +1 (760) 398-0136
[email protected]
https://www.peterrabbitfarms.com/