The Packer - June 1, 2006 - Laura Pate Farmers in South Miami-Dade are opening their mailboxes this week with a certain measure of fear -- and, for some, a dose of anger.
This year’s Florida avocado crop is expected to bring more quality than quantity, grower-shippers said. Sunny and calm weather in late May was a far cry from last year’s hurricanes - Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
But avocado trees are still reeling from the hurricanes, and yields will probably be 30% to 50% lower as a result, said Craig Wheeling, chief executive officer of Homestead, Fla.-based Brooks Tropicals Inc.
It seems there is a silver lining to the hurricane damage, though, because Wheeling said this year’s crop should be the highest quality since 1996.
"Lots of sunlight can get in the trees because the wind (from the hurricanes) pruned trees back," Wheeling said. "There’s lots of airflow to reduce moisture with very little rain this spring. That will also help."
Brooks Tropicals began harvesting small amounts of its early varieties - the donnie and simmons - May 20th, Wheeling said. Volume should increase the last week of June, he said.
And with low supplies, grower-shippers said they expect to see higher prices.
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