By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor
Due to excess hot
temperatures on the East Coast hurting quality and supply in the area, produce
buyers have rung up the sellers in Salinas for some good quality green leaf,
and iceberg varieties.
“It’s crazy, and definitely
unusual,” said Ben Wilson a salesman for Salinas-based Coastline Produce.
“On Wednesday most 24-count
green leaf cartons were shipping for $13 to $15 up from $10 to $11.50 a year
ago,” Wilson said. “On June 22, prices were as high as $20.00 per carton.
Demand has been so robust
that it has caused a shortage of green leaf and iceberg in the Salinas Valley. “It’s
very tight,” said Wilson.
“Just over a month ago, we
had more lettuce than we knew what to do with, and prices were in the cellar,”
said Wilson. “But then East Coast came up short on product and that created big
demand.”
Currently in Salinas, there
are many fields of lettuce, but they are still weeks away from harvest.
