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Cabbage harvest ramps up in the RGV

produce with pamela

DONNA, TX—I picked up some fun facts visiting a cabbage harvest in the Rio Grande Valley in early January. The region supplies cabbage for much of the U.S. west of the Mississippi this time of year, and so far the harvest is off to a good start.

Growers anticipate strong supplies for the St. Patrick’s Day rush, which usually starts in mid-February.

The Rio Grande Valley of Texas provides several different types of cabbage, including the traditional green variety, red, Napa and savoy. Cabbage is planted in the late summer and early fall, and harvested approximately six months later.

Crews will selectively harvest, pulling only the ideal retail sizes prior to the busy weeks before mid-March. When demand ramps up, they strip a field clean.

Over the last few years, growers have converted to using conveyors to load into trailers for packing.

Watch and see how cabbage is harvested, and learn some fun facts.

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Pamela Riemenschneider is the Retail Editor for Blue Book Services.