Storm systems coming through California are expected to cause some problems, but there likely will be a silver lining for the strawberry industry. Strawberry plants are thriving right now, and Manzanita Berry Farms General Manager Dave Peck said his plants are cranking out fruit. Many attendees at the annual Strawberry Field Day hosted by Manzanita Berry Farms, UC Cooperative Extension, the California Strawberry Commission and other sponsors were talking about the May rains that are hitting the state.
Peck said with the production the way it is right now some loss may be a good thing overall for the industry. “Like most successful farming industries, overproduction always ends up becoming a problem, and everybody wants everybody else to cut back on production because supply becomes an issue,” Peck said. “We are starting to see inklings of that in the marketplace, so if we could cut about half of the production for a couple of weeks and strengthen the marketplace, I think everyone would do better.”
Peck jokingly added that of course, it’s not a new problem for any industry. “That’s the century’s old problem with supply and demand and agricultural products, isn’t it?”
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