Light-to moderate rain showers moved through key Central Coast growing regions overnight and will continue through Wednesday morning, impacting harvest activity across Salinas Valley, Santa Maria, and Oxnard, CA. In anticipation of the storm, growers packed ahead over the weekend and yesterday to make sure orders are covered. Most growers will not be harvesting today due to wet and muddy field conditions, but those that will be harvesting will take measures to keep boxes and product as clean and dry as possible.

• Salinas Valley: Rainfall totals are expected to range from 0.25” to over .50”, with the higher totals being recorded in the northern areas of Watsonville and Castroville.
• Santa Maria: Most areas receiving approximately 0.65”–0.75” of rain.
• Oxnard: Heavier totals expected, with the potential for up to 0.75” or more.

As operations resume over the coming days, rain-related quality and shelf-life challenges are expected to develop across commodity and value-added items. These issues can include but are not limited to:

• Bottom rot due to oversaturated ground
• Black mold in Cauliflower
• Elevated dirt/mud
• Mildew pressure
• Pin rot in broccoli
• Premature pinking/shortened shelf life
• Rain damage, pin rot/decay, and decreased yields in strawberries

Markon inspectors are actively monitoring field and product conditions and will update further as needed.

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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