Organic Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts Offer Holiday Opportunities

While it has been a relatively “rough transition” between summer/fall and winter production of organic vegetables this year, the situation appears to have righted itself in the early December holiday time frame for some items, according to Robert Lichtenberg, director of purchasing for Earl’s Organic Produce in San Francisco. 

The organic produce industry veteran said some of the desert production deals started on the late side, while the fall deals ended a bit early. He noted the December pull is never as concentrated as Thanksgiving simply because the demand is more spread out rather than focused on one day. “I do see some pricing opportunities as there are good supplies on both brussels sprouts and Blue Lake green beans,” he said.

Robert Lichtenberg, Director of Purchasing, Earl's Organic Produce

Desert deals in California and Arizona are being joined by increasing organic supplies from Mexico in the winter, making for a better overall supply/demand situation. “The shoulders (when supplies are short) are getting smaller and smaller,” he said. “Most (organic) crops are now available year-round. Brussels sprouts are available 12 months of the year. Even heirloom tomatoes, which used to be seasonal, are now available about 11 months out of 12.”

“I do see some pricing opportunities as there are good supplies on both brussels sprouts and Blue Lake green beans.” -Robert Lichtenberg

Lichtenberg did say that the wide variety of winter squash varieties is declining as most of California’s production is wrapping up and Mexico is the main supplier moving forward. “Acorn squash has all but shut down,” he said. “Best opportunities are with butternut and spaghetti squash.”

But he noted that Mexican production of the soft squash and other vegetables is on the rise as the West Mexico vegetable deal starts to move into higher gears. He singled out both zucchini squash and colored peppers as organic veg items moving into greater supply.

Joe Angelo, director of sales for Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville, confirmed that the transition for the organic crops was “not as smooth as we would have liked.” He said some high temperatures while the fields were being planted delayed some production, and cool temperatures currently are leading to slower growth.

Joe Angelo, Director of Sales, Ocean Mist Farms

“It was warmer up here in Castroville yesterday than it was in Coachella, where we have our organic production,” he said, adding that the temperatures in the low 70s are six to seven degrees less than they would like to see. Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicts that the daily high will remain in the low 70s for the next 10 days.

“It was warmer up here in Castroville yesterday than it was in Coachella, where we have our organic production.” -Joe Angelo

Angelo said the company’s organic iceberg lettuce program is solid, with supplies matching demand. “We also have steady numbers on celery programs, and organic romaine hearts will see an increase in supply next week (week of Dec. 14).”

He continued: “We have light numbers on cauliflower, with organic cauliflower trading in the mid- to high $30s, and I’ve even seen some pricing in the low $40s.”

He added that broccoli is also in short supply. According to Angelo, organic supplies of artichokes—currently coming from the Oxnard district—are also very light and will remain so through December.

Ocean Mist Farms will source the majority of its organic vegetables from the Coachella Valley through the winter, moving back north as spring begins.