This past weekend’s Tropical Storm Hilary, will likely cause a delay in the later harvesting of asparagus grown in Mexico's Baja, California. Avocado producers in Mexico report they expect about 20%-30% lower volumes after the effect of strong winds on the trees.
In Mexico’s Baja, California the American producer and exporter Jacobs, Malcolm & Burtt (JMB) produce a large part of their asparagus for the US and export markets. According to Dan Miller, Worldwide Production Manager of JMB, production was impacted by the storm with delays expected later in the season. “JMB growers in Baja were spared the worst of it so it seems. Acreage being harvested will benefit from the water. Some acreage was beginning to be harvested and will see little impact. Later acreage that was still in fern and being matured will get pushed back some.”
Baja California traditionally sees the peak of their season from the middle of August. The storm lashed several parts of Mexico over the weekend with one reported death. JMB grows asparagus in Baja, California and in the Central Highlands of Mexico. Miller says the infrastructure was heavily impacted leading to inaccessible roads and power outages. “Infrastructure is a different story though, loss of electricity has interrupted packing operations and road damage in several areas along the peninsula will slow down deliveries for the next week or so.”
He warns that asparagus will be in short supply in the US due to ongoing warmer weather in Mexico. “On the mainland in the Bajio a hot dry summer has shortened supply and this area will limp into the finish early September. Overall there will be a continued short supply of asparagus for the end of the summer.”
According to Francisco Murguía from Frutos Guadalajara, who are organic avocado and new berry producers in Mexico, the storm did not lead to flooding, but they have seen the strong wind impact and lower the production of the avocado trees. “Fortunately, our farms weren’t affected by the flooding. But, the wind made a reduction of about 20%-30% production of our trees. Almost all the growers in our area were affected in similar ways too,” states Murguía.
According to the World Meteorological Organization in the Eastern North Pacific, Hilary weakened ahead of landfall in Mexico. It is now a "post-tropical cyclone" but is causing record-breaking rainfall in usually arid parts of Southwest US and dangerous flooding. The organisation stated that “The hurricane season has roared into life” in the US and Atlantic Ocean areas that include Haiti, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico that are threatened with torrential rainfall.
Source - https://www.freshplaza.com
