Tighter Vegetable Supplies Leads to Good Demand

Article by: Hari Yellina

Prices have risen in recent months, particularly for cauliflowers, according to a Western Australian vegetable grower, owing to a lack of supply and difficulties persuading workers to select the fruit. Farmers have been planting less, according to Morning Glory Farms owner Bevan Eatts, and pricing was obviously supply-driven, with a week or two of low volumes on the market. Mr Eatts added, “For one week, the price of cauliflower hit $6 per head, something I have never seen before in my life.” “However, the difficulties have only been in the area of labour.” It’s been difficult to recruit volunteers to assist in the harvesting of the crops. Then there was the backpacker shortage, and now there are those who want to work but don’t have a COVID Visa.

It’s incredibly tough to persuade them to work in agriculture. As a result of the labour scarcity, several growers have reduced their agricultural production. It’s pointless to sow crops if you can’t harvest them. When you speak with different producers, you’ll find that they’re all reducing their programming in some way owing to a labour shortage.” He went on to say that the company grows cauliflower, sweet corn, beets, and spaghetti squash, and that demand has been high for a variety of reasons. “During the summer months, sweet corn has been quite popular,” he remarked. “However, any fresh vegetable or fruit appears to be in high demand. I wouldn’t call it a scarcity, but supply is tight. So far, it’s been a positive experience from the standpoint of the producer. We undertook some beetroot trials last year and have now increased to 7,000 plants every two weeks, resulting in orders for a tonne each week.

It was first perplexing as to where the demand came from, but it appears to be a new trend in which people are drinking more juices and cafés and restaurants are including it into their menus. So far, it’s been a good vegetable line, but people are still learning about it and the best method to grow it. Gourmet pumpkins are also supplied to the culinary industry by the Western Australian producer, and they are proving to be a hit with customers, with unique variances from ordinary pumpkins. Morning Glory Farms is one of the few farmers of Spaghetti Squash in the United States, and the harvest is well begun this year.

Mr Eatts said, “We’re still selling the majority of our crop on the east coast, and we’re still utilising stickers with QR codes.” “Demand is gradually increasing. It’s been a gradual process, and we had some hail damage last year that harmed the quality, but so far, the quality has been good, and that’s not just for Spaghetti Squash, but for all of our produce, so if it can hold out for the next 4-6 weeks, we’ll be very happy. (The DiMuto blockchain stickers) have resulted in an increase in inquiries and direct conversations with customers.