The West Coast has taken a beating by extreme weather so far this year, and that's delayed the planting season in the nation's largest agriculture producer: California. You'll pay for it. California produces half of the nation's agriculture, and that unrelenting spring series of storms have battered the San Juaquin Valley, Salinas Valley, and grape growing areas across the state, impeding farmers' ability to get the crop in the ground.
"Produce, lettuce, fruits and nuts, spinach, kale, tomatoes. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture we're going to see increases in maybe all those," financial Analyst Bill Dendy tells KTRH News.
Dendy says among the hardest hit crops also include strawberries, celery, carrots, broccoli and garlic.
Fortunately, he suggests, the spike in prices won't be long-lasting. "We expect these increases to be short-term as supply and demand starts to level out, probably mid-summer. For consumers looking for immediate relief, they're probably not going to see that relief May or June, but come July or August things probably will catch back up." Dendy says that doesn't mean prices will lower, they just won't escalate at the rates we're currently seeing.
Add to the planting problems, pollination pandemonium. The bees knees are a little weak from strong winds breaking off their wings, slowing down their trip from plant to plant.
Inclement weather added to inflationary pressure means less salad.
Here's some fun facts from the CA AG Dept.
● California is the most productive agricultural state in the nation. Farmers and ranchers in California blend old-fashioned patience and perseverance with cutting-edge technologies and advanced agricultural practices. The result is that California has been the nation’s No. 1 agricultural producer and exporter for 50 years ● California’s fertile and temperate growing regions are highly productive. Actually, nine of the top 10 agricultural producing counties in the nation are located in California. Fresno County tops the list with a total gross agricultural commodities production value of $5,347,398,000 in 2007. ● California is the nation’s sole producer (99 percent or more) of a large number of specialty crops: • Almonds • Artichokes • Clingstone Peaches • Dried Plums • Figs • Olives • Persimmons • Pomegranates • Raisins • Seed, Ladino Clover • Sweet Rice • Walnuts. ● The Golden State’s agricultural abundance includes 400 different commodities. The state produces about half of U.S. - grown fruits, nuts and vegetables. With less than four percent of the nation’s California Total Area: 99.81 million acres Acres in ag production: 25.36 million Farms & ranches: 81,033 Average Farm Size (acres) 313 Population: 36,961,664 (2009 est.) - Rural: 833,075 - Urban: 36,128,589 Market Value of Ag Products: $ 33.9 billion , California produces over 13 % percent of the nation’s agricultural production value. ● California’s top 20 crop and livestock commodities account for more than $25 billion in value. Each of the top 10 commodities exceed $1 billion in value. In 2006 and milk remained the No. 1 commodity, followed by nursery/greenhouse products and grapes. ● With an annual export market of more than $11.3 billion in food and commodities, California leads the nation’s exporters, shipping to more than 150 countries around the world. The European Union, Canada and Japan are the top three destinations for California’s agricultural products.
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