Tom Curtis, president of Tom Curtis Brokerage, Inc. at the market, commented on excessive rain and heat damage in parts of Texas, which harmed parsley, dill, and cilantro crops, as well as conditions at times in Mexico and Florida, which led to higher prices. “Beans are ridiculously priced at $40, $50, and even $60,” he notes, adding, “peppers and squash are through the roof. The weather is causing everything to go through the roof.”
There were also problems with fruit. “Berries were a real problem in the fall with too much heat and too much rain,” Courtis explains.
And then there’s California, and its ongoing drought. “They’re growing less acreage, so we have to find alternatives,” says Curtis. And though he was able to find other suppliers in Canada and other areas of country to source from, it is proving difficult for some commodities, like cantaloupe and honeydew. “There aren’t many alternatives,” he admits, noting the company has been fortunate in being able to “supply customers from connections we’ve had for 20 years. California was the gold standard and now all of a sudden it’s not.”
