As early spring harvest timings approach, California, home to 90% of all U.S. broccoli is holding on to current stocks. The West Coast market is steady despite recent floods that swept away crops in the central, western and southern regions.
One such affected place is Monterey, the county in Central California which produces 40% of the state’s broccoli. The area received large-scale floods on January 18 and as locals counted crop damage, they also acknowledged moisture retention. This is true as moisture retention adds taste to raw broccoli during winter.
Since the early 1970s, California has consistently produced the bulk of American broccoli despite floods in 1995 and 2024.
Estimates by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) put the annual area under broccoli at 120,000 acres since 2000.
Three coastal counties including Monterey produce a third of all U.S.’ broccoli year-round. Desert environments, especially southern California’s Imperial Valley only manage to produce the leafy crowns in winter.
The normally parched Imperial Valley may indeed count on rains to supplant dwindling supplies in flooded coastal areas. This is despite the county near the Mexico border having experienced flooding in August, 2023 from Super Storm Hilary. As recently as February 12, 2024, it also had a minor earthquake pass through it.
Broccoli Market Spotlight in California
Just before the floods, broccoli in Monterey had already bloomed with florets long enough to make floral bouquets. In unaffected areas, blooms are now turning into crowns and will be ready to hit the market in March.
Prices by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) already imply steady supplies at the Los Angeles terminal. The current market sources include all of California and neighboring Arizona from 2023 stocks.
On February 12, 2024 USDA reported the wholesale “market steady.” Prices of crown cut broccoli were going for between $12 and $18 per 20-pound (ib) carton. The highest quality baby hybrid variety was costing between $28 and $30 per 20-ib box.
Still, there was poor quality broccoli, especially 14-size bunched crowns that cost at least $10 per 20-ib carton.
So, in the aftermath of floods, the Golden State’s crown crop is still weathering the storm with good supplies.