California garlic harvest starts as pandemic boosts demand
Christopher Ranch, Gilroy, Calif., has started its annual harvest, and will be packing up to a million pounds of fresh garlic every week during its peak.
Christopher Ranch is reporting unprecedented demand, with the COVID-19 pandemic shifting consumption and disrupting inventories and projected supplies, according to a news release.
The company is adding shifts at its Gilroy facility to increase production.
“The COVID-19 crisis has been a real game changer for the domestic garlic industry,” Ken Christopher, executive vice president, said in the release. “It’s been difficult trying to maintain national supply lines, so the timing of our new crop couldn’t be better. We’re focused on rebuilding inventories, and getting our all-American garlic back out there to our customers.”
New-crop California garlic will be arriving at grocery stores in early July.
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