Produce Update-March 11 2015

Stefan: With this “winter” weather we have been having here in BC, it is leading to some of our earliest inbound BC grown produce in recent times! Olera Farms is just starting up today with radishes, mizuna and arugula. Three cheers for this crazy weather and the new Vancouver area non-winter? Thank goodness I had a trip to Edmonton in January where I was able to get a taste of winter. Olera should have spinach coming up next week as well. Two EEs Farms is also starting up this weekend in a limited way with green dandelions and collards. Hawaiian ginger and turmeric is still trickling in depending on the Kolo Kai harvest schedule. The Harkers are now finished shipping apples for the season and Washington still has a good size crop but demand is strong and prices are already inching up. It doesn’t help that our Canadian dollar is worth 20% less than last year at the same time either.Annie: California transition is underway, with harvesting in the Salinas and Watsonville areas. Arugula and Napa and baby bok choi are still gapping, spinach limited, broccoli and cauli supplies tight and prices rising. Strawberries are in good supply and with the early spring weather, the only pressure will be water supplies as we move into warmer temperatures through the Salinas valley. Tasty pei spuds are holding beautifully, and a new load of Oregon fingerlings is arriving this weekend. Carrots are also transitioning, and though 24/2’s and 10/5’s are coming in steady, juice and table are limited. Fair trade Peruvian Kent mangos are perfect-zingy and sweet, with good supply for the next several weeks. Larger sizes of avocado are tight, with 20-24ct sizes and bagged 18/5ct plentiful.