Arkansas grower-shippers already are harvesting many of their spring/summer crops, like berries, broccoli, cucumbers and lettuce, and movement will pick up as the season progresses.
Lonoke, Ark.-based Barnhill Orchards will kick off its blackberries, blueberries and a new raspberry program in June, said Ekko Barnhill, who handles sales and marketing.
The firm, which ships to local restaurants and operates a corner market, also will have sweet corn, watermelons, cantaloupe, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, red Pontiac potatoes, cabbage, broccoli and Vidalia sweet onions during the summer.
The Lonoke area had a mild winter and spring, which led to an early start for its strawberry deal that will run until the end of May, Barnhill said.
“We had a very successful strawberry season,” she said. “Quite a bit of our community comes out and supports us.”
Barnhill Orchards will have pears and apples in the fall.
Matthews Ridgeview Farms, Wynne, Ark., expects its sweet potato volume this year to top last year’s thanks to some added acreage, said Sales Manager Autumn Campbell.
“We have had the rains we needed followed up with necessary sunshine for growing sweet potatoes,” she said.
It was difficult to predict the size and quality of the potatoes since they were just planted in mid-May, but Campbell was optimistic.
“We are experienced farmers and follow the very best practices to produce a quality crop,” she said.
The company still is shipping its 2022 storage crop. The new crop will start shipping in mid-to-late September.
Campbell expects sweet potato prices to remain steady
“I haven’t had any significant changes, and prices have been strong for the most part,” she said.
On the organic side, Augusta, Ark.-based Peebles Organic Farms LLC will offer organic watermelons, sweet potatoes, rice, edamame, soybeans and watermelons, said Shawn Peebles, owner and operator.
Growing weather was “wet and unseasonably cool,” Peebles said. Nonetheless, he was hoping for good quality and sizing on the company’s spring/summer offerings.
Watermelons should be available from late June through early September and sweet potatoes from mid-September on.
The company’s sweet potato volume will be down this year because of reduced acreage resulting from a decrease in demand from processors, Peebles said.
Dealing with inflation
Inflation is having an effect on Arkansas grower-shippers, as it has on producers nationwide.
“It has made the expense to operate as a whole — from farming to packaging, freight and labor … increase significantly,” Campbell said.
The biggest cost increases have been in the areas of equipment, parts, labor and inputs, as well higher prices for new construction and upgrades.
Peebles said inflation has not been kind to the organic industry, where retail prices already were higher than conventional products.
“With inflation on everything in our economy, it has not helped our commodity prices to increase,” he said. “I’m not sure that consumers can afford for prices to increase at this time.”
Expenses at Peebles Organic Farms have more than doubled, he said, “but commodity prices haven’t increased in years, which cuts our profit margin.”
The biggest increases have been the cost of the H-2A guest worker program and equipment parts and repairs, he said.
Sustainability
Sustainability also is a focus of Arkansas grower-shippers, since it’s something that some buyers and many consumers are concerned with.
“Everything we do from field to table plays a vital role in our sustainability,” Campbell said. “Our customers’ compliance needs vary with each customer, and we meet those needs accordingly.”
Peebles said his customers haven’t inquired about his sustainability practices, but that doesn’t mean his operation is not sustainable. Tail water recovery systems, moisture sensors and cover crops are some of the things he has incorporated to enhance sustainability.
Campbell said sustainability adds to the company’s costs, but it’s worth it.
“It’s worth it because we believe in creating partnerships with our customers,” she said. “Being sustainable is being reliable. If our customers grow, we grow.”
