Extent Of El Nino Damage To Produce Still Unknown

When you’re talking about the damage done to California agriculture by this winter’s El Nino-influenced rainstorms, time is of the essence.

Do you mean short-term problems, like the damage the water did to fruit now being harvested? Do you mean medium-term problems, such as how the rain delayed plantings for crops that will be harvested this spring? Or is it long term: How is this going to play out in the fall and beyond?

Strawberries have borne the brunt of the storms so far, but while some fruit was lost, few plants were damaged. Given a few more days of clear weather, things should be back to normal.

More seriously affected are artichokes and asparagus, both of which are centered in the hard-hit northern part of California. The spring artichoke harvest - normally the biggest of the year - is expected to be 60 percent of normal, and sizes will also be affected. The asparagus harvest will be at least 20 percent to 25 percent below average.

Prices for cauliflower and broccoli are also higher than normal, mainly because of the difficulty of harvesting rain-soaked fields.

In the middle term, look for prices of everything from iceberg lettuce to bottled salsa to be slightly higher this year. With fields so wet, farmers have been unable to prepare and plant. This will lead to sporadic short-term lettuce supply problems this spring and a shortage of processing tomatoes that go into ketchup and salsa.

In the long term, the rains have played havoc with almond growers. It will be a month before anyone knows for sure, but it’s a pretty safe bet that this year’s harvest will be significantly smaller than last year’s. If this current spell of clear weather doesn’t hold up, the same will be true for cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums.