2021 Year in Review — Extreme Weather
Among the many uncertainties of 2021, fruit and vegetable professionals were faced with extreme weather that wreaked havoc on the supply chain. As if a pandemic were not enough, growers, shippers, marketers and retailers were faced with a barrage of crippling weather, from extreme cold in New York and Texas, to the Western wildfires, Hurricane Ida, and severe heat and drought.
Here are a few articles that summarize the chaos that was 2021.
Snowstorm closes NYC’s Hunts Point for buying, but still receiving
Feb. 1
Amy Sowder
The National Weather Service’s observation location in Manhattan’s Central Park recorded 13.3 inches of snow, eight inches in the last six hours, with continued snowfall. Hunts Point Produce Market, which supplies about 60% of the New York City area’s fresh produce, was forced to close its doors to buyers, but continued receiving truck deliveries.
Unusually heavy snow partially closes NYC’s Hunts Point for a day
Feb 5
Amy Sowder
NEW YORK — Winter Storm Orlena blanketed the Northeast and New England regions so much so that Hunts Point Produce Market had to pause for a day until companies could toss it off and move on. New York City hasn’t seen a foot or more of snow in five years, and almost 18 inches of snow covered Manhattan’s Central Park.
Outdoor subway service was suspended, and railroads shut down. “Our snow operation team started 10 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 31) and continued through the storm well into Tuesday night,” said Philip Grant, Hunts Point Produce Market general manager.
Valentine’s Day freeze causes big damage in Texas
February 19
Tom Karst
In what some are calling the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, an extended period of cold weather destroyed some crops in Texas and damaged others in mid-February. More time is needed to fully measure the damage, but industry leaders said the freeze ranked among the state’s worst in recent memory.
Video: Texas growers recount devastating crop damage from recent freeze
March 8
Amelia Friedline
Texas Farm Bureau provides a closer look at the damage wrought on Texas crops by Winter Storm Uri. “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Uvalde vegetable grower Brandon Laffere of L&L Farms said in the video. “I mean, this wiped us out completely.”
Texas growers, distributors poised for good volume, higher labor; freight costs loom
November 15
Tom Karst
The freeze caused a significant increase in grove care costs because of necessary pruning, as well as the need for some growers to regraft onto the root stock of new plantings that did not fare well, said TJ flowers, vice president of operations and sales at Mission, Texas-based Lone Star Citrus Growers.
“Our crews worked nonstop throughout the offseason to accomplish this,” he said. Despite the fierce freeze in February, the longer-term outlook for Texas citrus is positive, he said.
Heat, drought fuel western wildfires; more historic heat forecast next week
July 15
AgDayTV
Heat and dry conditions aren't helping the wildfire situation in the West. Right now, 67 large fires are burning across the U.S., scorching nearly 918,000 acres in 12 states.
Taking priority was the Snake River Complex wildfire near Spokane, Wash., which is comprised of three wildfires that were all started by lightning.
Lawmakers push for USDA help for growers scorched by drought, heat
July 29
Tom Karst
Western U.S. lawmakers are pushing the USDA to give more help to growers burned by record heat and drought.
In a July 27 letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a bipartisan group of lawmakers asked for more relief for farmers, ranchers, shellfish growers and other agricultural producers in the West affected by historic wildfires, droughts and extreme heat.
California farmers leave fields fallow as drought grows more dire
May 28
Tyne Morgan
The drought has become a mainstay in California. Northern California reservoirs contain only half the water they normally do in late spring. As California farmers rely on Mother Nature and ground water this year, one farmer said it won't be enough to even grow a crop, with some farmers choosing to not plant at all.
Record heat takes toll on fruit crop
July 12
Tyne Morgan
Record-breaking heat that blasted the West is also proving to be lethal to crops. Even with the heat breaking a bit, daily records were tied or broken across California, Nevada and Arizona, with extreme heat also hitting Idaho and portions of the Pacific Northwest. The heat and extreme drought conditions are fueling wildfires, as well, and causing orchards and farm workers to change their schedules in order to beat the heat.
Growers speak out on water crisis
July 16
Tom Karst
California’s water crisis is bad and getting worse. In a video series released by Western Growers called “No Water = No Crops,” Joe Del Bosque of Del Bosque Farms, in Firebaugh, Calif., who sacrificed his asparagus field that still had five years’ productivity left, said, “This is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make in a long time. Seventy people are going to lose their jobs here. Next year, there will be no harvest here. Those 70 people lose two months of work. It’s a very difficult hit for them.”
Drought makes citrus growers look hard at their future
Oct. 8
Tom Karst
The current drought in California is forcing growers to take a hard look at their permanent planting, such as citrus trees, says Matt Dusi, analyst for Wells Fargo Commercial Banking. Dusi said that the high cost of water will lead to “tough decisions” for the 2021-22 citrus outlook in California and Arizona.
Hurricane Ida causes power outages, 'significant damage'
Sept. 3
AgDayTV
Initial assessment of the area hit by Hurricane Ida indicates some portions of Louisiana could be without power for weeks, possibly a month. This week, major export elevators such as Cargill confirmed a direct hit to facilities, citing "significant damage."
PMA unable to put on Fresh Summit 2021
Sept. 17
Industry Press Release
Hurricane Ida has forced the cancelation of the Produce Marketing Association's (PMA) Fresh Summit 2021.
“I believe our industry always has a role to play addressing our community’s largest challenges, and right now, the highest priority is the safety of those impacted by the storm,” said Cathy Burns, PMA CEO. “While I’m incredibly disappointed that we will be unable to come together this year, we must allow the city and its citizens time to regroup and rebuild.”
Insurance losses mount as Hurricane Ida could land among top-five costliest hurricanes
Sept. 23
AgDayTV
Now, the Wall Street Journal is putting a dollar amount on the damage caused by Hurricane Ida. The report shows the storm is poised to be one of the top-five costliest hurricanes based on insurance losses. Risk Management Solutions is estimating insured losses between $31 and $44 billion.
The storm had a long tail, not just hitting Louisiana, but also causing damage in the Northeast as it moved on after making landfall.
