2022 Year in Produce: Weather
Too wet. Too cold. Too dry. Weather can be a wildcard come growing season, and 2022 saw fruit and vegetable production in multiple regions challenged by extreme or prolonged conditions.
Lingering drought in the western U.S., freezing temperatures in Mexico, snowfall in the Northwest and devastation from Hurricane Ian in Florida were among notable events for the year.
Here are some stories highlighting how weather affected operations in 2022.
Mexico’s Caborca asparagus region deals with weather woes, limiting supply
Feb. 22
By Tom Karst
Mexican asparagus exporters in Caborca, Sonora, say harsh weather in January and February has resulted in substantially lower-than-expected yields so far this season.
“Harsh weather conditions in early January and the whole month of February have to account for the main reason for low yields,” according to an update from the Caborca Vegetable Producers Association. “These harsh weather conditions include a big three-day freeze in early January that blasted over the valley, accompanied by rain and a long period of cold weather.”
Low-temperature conditions persisted throughout January. In the month of February, strong winds and mid-February cold contributed to a 70% decrease in production in late February, according to the association.
In addition to the recent cold, the update said that some growers think the lack of needed cold weather in November and December, when asparagus is dormant, could be taking a toll on 2022 yields.
Drought crisis weighing on West
June 17
By Tom Karst
The U.S. West is suffering from successive and compounding drought, and the situation is getting worse.
That was the message of Camille Calimlim Touton, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation at the U.S. Department of the Interior in June 14 testimony before Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
As of June 7, Touton said, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows more than 40% of the U.S is currently experiencing at least moderate drought, and almost 93% of the western U.S. is experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions. What's more, 70% of the western U.S. is experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions.
Patrick O’Toole, president of the Family Farm Alliance, testified to the committee that the government has no meaningful policy approach to the drought.
"The Western drought continues with no real federal policy action other than to limit irrigation supplies to farmers and residents," O'Toole said. "We need to prepare for future droughts, not simply react to current hydrologic shortages."
April snow chills Northwest cherry output
July 1
By Tom Karst
While the Northwest cherry season is likely to extend into September, crop volumes keep getting smaller because of April’s cold and snow, according to B.J. Thurlby, president of the Yakima, Wash.-based Northwest Cherry Growers. While an average Northwest cherry crop is 20 to 21 million cartons, the latest crop estimate from the group is at just over 14 million cartons.
“We haven’t seen anything like this in a long time,” Thurlby said, noting that the Northwest cherry output will be the lowest since 2011. “But we’ve added 15,000 acres since 2011.”
A six-inch snow during cherry bloom on April 12 caused problems for the crop, Thurlby said. Those problems are showing up now with variable fruit maturity and reduced fresh packouts, he said. Growers with cherry trees that weren’t in bloom on April 12 may see a more normal “back end” of the season, Thurlby said.
Surviving megadrought, Southwest citrus growers manage water wisely
Oct. 13
By Kristin Leigh Lore
Not only do California and Arizona citrus growers face the challenge of growing fruit profitably in shifting markets, but drought conditions in the southwestern U.S. continue to worsen and affect irrigation.
Looking ahead to 2023, extreme weather is impacting not only growers recovering from Hurricane Ian in the Southeast, but drought conditions in the Southwest continue to worsen, with no end in sight. One major consequence of the drought is reduced water available for irrigating Southwest citrus crops. Farmers in California and Arizona are experiencing the driest conditions in the basin and mounting water restrictions are expected to continue well into the future.
“Responsible water management is key,” said Christina Ward, senior director of global marketing at Sunkist Growers. “Citrus farmers have long used the most advanced technology with soil moisture monitors and micro-sprinklers to water trees for just what it needs.”
'Heartbreaking' Hurricane Ian damage to Florida agriculture estimated up to $1.56B
Oct. 18
By Tom Karst
Drawing comparisons to the damage wrought by Hurricane Irma in 2017, Hurricane Ian’s damage to Florida crops and livestock has been estimated by University of Florida economists from $787 million to $1.56 billion.
Despite heavy flooding prohibiting full assessments of some fields, the researchers predicted economic impacts to citrus, vegetables and livestock from Hurricane Ian, which hit southwest Florida Sept. 28.
Economists noted that production loss values do not include repair or replacement values associated with downed trees, which are expected to be significant in number, or damages to infrastructure such as irrigation equipment and buildings.
