![]() ![]() ![]() The extreme cold, windy and wet weather across the country has prevented bees from pollinating as usual. Lost grains: Global rice shortage possible in 2023, prices are expected to remain high, analysts say It’s not just the soil, but the bees “At retail stores, some supply imported from Mexico has helped keep prices down, but the organic and locally grown has been more expensive.”Ĭlimate hits our food: Weird weather hit cattle ranchers and citrus growers in 2022. “What we have seen at local farmers markets is an increase in price,” Wells Fargo’s Rubin said. Salinas and Salinas Valley are part of Monterey County, and Watsonville is part of Santa Cruz County.Ĭrops hit the hardest included romaine lettuce, strawberries, wine grapes, celery, carrots, broccoli and garlic, it said. In late February, the Monterey County agricultural commissioner’s office in California estimated the value of crops lost and projected future losses at $324.1 million. Not only did farmers have to wait for the water to subside, but they also had to make sure the soil wasn’t contaminated with bacteria that could cause foodborne illness. The overflow left about one-fifth of the fields underwater.įloods in the Salinas Valley, the nation's “salad bowl” that grows more than 60% of its lettuce, also hampered planting. Intense rainfall breached a levee and flooded the central California communities of Watsonville and Salinas, which produce about one-third of the state’s strawberries. What crops couldn’t be planted?īerries, lettuce and other green leafy vegetables and tomatoes are among the major crops that will suffer from the flooding in California. There's nowhere to plant tomatoes, and that's just one problem.Ĭhicken pot pie costs what?: You think food price inflation is easing? Try baking this chicken pot pie recipe. “This year is extreme,” said Brad Rubin, sector manager for specialty crops within Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute. “The amount of wet weather and a cold spring delayed plantings in major areas of California.”įlooded with problems: California's vast farms are soaked. ![]() In the meantime, consumers may see smaller selections, lower supplies and higher prices, experts say. fruits, nuts and "salad bowl" vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, spinach and kale, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.Īlthough farmers are optimistic they can recover from delayed planting timelines, it may take a few months. But the extreme swings this year have left many growers behind schedule, especially in California, which produces nearly half of U.S. Good weather, especially in the spring when planting season starts, is vital to growing a bountiful crop of fruits, nuts and vegetables. this year, and shoppers likely will feel the lingering effects at the grocery store heading into summer. The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History reported it had documented the extremely rare Santa Cruz Mountains beardtongue-a perennial herb that typically doesn’t appear until at least May.Snow, torrential rains, massive floods. The National Weather Service Bay Area said the storm will continue through early Wednesday and will likely bring snow to areas above 2,500 feet.Īnd along with the frigid news, here are some good tidings: “Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart and liver disease, alcoholism or drug intoxication, are the most vulnerable to hypothermia during frigid weather,” an official for the agency tweeted. Meanwhile, the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management sent a warning that drug and alcohol use in freezing weather can be fatal. In fact, at 6:24pm, a Santa Cruz County spokesperson said on Twitter that Graham Hill Road had opened after PG&E cleared wires and a broken power pole from the route. “Customers are urged to stay safe and remain prepared.” “PG&E is focused on restoring those in hard-hit areas that have been experiencing extended outages while preparing for the incoming weather,” the spokesperson said. ![]()
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