WestFresh Distributing in Monterey, CA, has increased its production of organic green bell peppers from the desert and is anticipating a sizable crop from the Coachella Valley, with harvest expected to begin in mid-April.

“We should get going around April 15 and be in the deal until about mid-June,” said Kirk Pohl, who started his company almost three decades ago.

Kirk Pohl, Founder, WestFresh

In collaboration with local grower Brett Manion, WestFresh has a sizable organic green pepper deal in the spring and then again in the fall with a late October through Thanksgiving program. Pohl notes that he specializes in just a few crops at a time, with organics usually leading the way. Besides the pepper deal in Coachella Valley, WestFresh will once again have an extensive organic green bean deal from Baja California, starting around June 1 and going through Thanksgiving. During that period, WestFresh sells about 5-7 loads of organic green beans each week.

Though from the outside looking in, the Coachella Valley organic green pepper deal will look the same as it has the past few years, there have been some ownership changes in the land itself. Manion had been leasing the 80-acre ranch for several years before he and Pohl became partners and bought the acreage two years ago. The original plan was to have Manion take 100 percent ownership within a couple of years, and that has happened.

Pohl notes that he specializes in just a few crops at a time, with organics usually leading the way.

But Pohl noted that the partnership between grower and sales representative remains unchanged. He expects a very good crop this year and is hoping that the market stays relatively strong. “Right now [mid-March], the market on organic green bells is in the mid-$20s, and demand continues to be strong,” he said.

Brett Manion, WestFresh educating the community about farming

As he sat in his Monterey office in March waiting for the pepper harvest to begin, Pohl noted these are difficult times with many land mines, both figuratively and literally. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was a couple of weeks old, and Pohl lamented the action and the effects on the Ukrainian people. He added that it remains to be seen how this war impacts the world. “I am concerned about the situation in Ukraine,” he said. “What effect will it have on the economy? We are already facing rising inflation, which could impact consumers’ buying habits. Cost of fuel is already very high. Is it going to go up?”

“Right now [mid-March], the market on organic green bells is in the mid-$20s, and demand continues to be strong.” – Kirk Pohl

Pohl noted that coast-to-coast freight rates had dipped in recent weeks to below the five-digit numbers that were commonplace in November/December. “They recently dipped to about $8,000 for cross-country routes, but I think they are going to go up again. I think we need a fuel surcharge,” he offered.