Please click here to view a Markon Live from the Fields video regarding significant widespread flooding currently taking place in California’s Salinas Valley.

• California has been pummeled by several atmospheric river events over the past two to three weeks
  • Atmospheric rivers are concentrated streams of water vapor originating over the Hawaiian tropics, ranging about 100 to 250 miles in width and follow a tight path toward Western North America
  • These narrow rivers of moisture-laden air flow make landfall five to six times a year in California, in a normal winter season
    • Although potent atmospheric rivers can cause extreme rainfall with catastrophic flooding and mudslides, many are weak and provide beneficial rain to California every Winter
    • On average, about 30% to 50% of annual precipitation on North America’s West Coast comes from a handful of atmospheric river events, according to the National Weather Service
• Some areas of California have received 400%-600% above historical rainfall amounts, causing widespread flooding
• As of last night, January 12, it is estimated that upwards of 20,000 acres of plant-able vegetable ground have been flooded in the Salinas Valley, and more rain is on the way
  • Monterey County Records show the Salinas Valley has roughly 450,000 plant-able vegetable acres
  • Salinas Valley accounts for roughly 80% of the nation’s vegetable production from April to early July
• Cultivation/planting cannot take place under the current wet and flooded field conditions
• Delayed plantings and crops lost to flooding will ultimately lead to product shortages and high markets in the Spring (April – May)

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for further information.

©2023 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.