East Coast broccoli production is getting underway, with North Carolina expected to begin harvest around October 20 and Georgia starting around October 15. The season is expected to run seven to eight weeks, potentially into January, offering a meaningful injection of supply to a market that has been tight for months.
Broccoli demand is currently exceeding supply after a difficult stretch in both Mexico and California, where weather hurt production and left the market running short. Maine's season is also winding down, and the addition of Virginia and South Carolina supply is beginning to fill some gaps. Demand typically rises in the fall as consumers shift to heartier eating, which could offset some of the relief from new supply.
Market prices are expected to soften once East Coast production is fully underway, but buyers should watch for drought conditions in North Carolina — some back-end transplants ran into dry conditions, and weekend rains may not have been enough to ensure uniform crop fill. It's worth tracking how that back portion of the crop develops over the next few weeks.