Remnants of Hurricane Rachel brought 1.25 to 1.75 inches of rain to California's Coachella Valley, pushing the bell pepper harvest start back roughly a week. Green bell pepper harvest is expected to begin next week instead of this week, with red bell peppers following in early November through year-end. The delay is relatively minor, but it narrows the transition window between Georgia and Mexico, with Coachella expected to supply close to half of all U.S. green bell peppers in November.
Volumetrics are slightly below average due to weather across multiple regions, and sizing is running a bit small. That said, green bell pricing is above year-ago levels and is expected to hold until Mexican production ramps up in December. Colored pepper pricing has strengthened since a weak late summer. Leafy greens — romaine, green leaf, red leaf, iceberg, and butter lettuce — are also set to begin harvesting from Coachella in early November, running through April.
Buyers planning Thanksgiving pepper programs should account for the one-week delay and slightly tighter supply. The window before Mexican volume enters the market in December is where pricing will be most sensitive.