Hungenberg Produce Inc. has a big crop of fresh carrots coming for this fall, said Jordan Hungenberg, CEO of the Greeley, Colo.-based company.
“We grew 1,500 acres of carrots this year, 250 of which are organic carrots, “ he said. Fresh carrot supply will continue through December, he said.
“We had a mild spring, and our crop is very solid,” Hungenberg said. “Last year it was extremely hot, and the carrots struggled to emerge through the crust, and you couldn’t keep them wet enough early on – this year’s crop is double what last years was.”
The high cost of freight has played a big role in the strong demand for Colorado carrots, he said.
“Freight is so expensive, everyone is looking for ways to source in a cost-efficient way.”
For Hungenberg, the biggest challenge is finding sufficient labor.
“Finding people to show up and help pack carrots on a daily basis is tough, but we’re making it work,” he said.
