Radish growers in the Midwest have enjoyed good summer weather, with warm temperatures and occasional rain. Although the season is more than halfway through, both Ohio and Michigan are still in full production.
"We are harvesting radishes in both states now," said Chadd Buurma of Buurma Farms. "The harvest started on May 20 and will go through no later than the first week of November. For radishes, we've had good summer weather. A few inches of rain fell over the weekend and there have been a few rain events over the summer. However the rain came down gently enough so as not to cause a problem."
A Buurma Farms team member in the field
Hurricane activity might disturb market
The current radish market is relatively flat and prices have stayed at the same levels for a while now. This situation is likely to remain the same, and the only potential disruption would come if hurricane activity affects growers in Florida.
"The market has been steady with not a whole lot of movement," Buurma noted. "The average price has been around $10 and it's not expected to stray from there for the remainder of the season. Hurricane activity can affect planting for the Florida season which would most likely affect the market, but that depends on if and where a hurricane would land in Florida."
"One of the steadiest crops"
The fact that the radish market doesn't move much can be of benefit. A steady commodity can build confidence in that product and ensure a farmer's return on investment. "Radish demand seems to have reached a line where it is very steady," Buurma observed. "There are no peaks and valleys like many other commodities. In fact, it is one of the steadiest crops that we grow."
Buurma added that when it comes to packaging, the company also has a steady offering to cover their customers' requirements. "We do cellophane packs as well as the 25s and 40s which are well suited for foodservice. We also do bunched radishes."