New York cabbage growers are in the middle of a record-yield season, with Hansen Farms describing it as one for the books. The harvest is on historical timing, running through late November if weather holds, and carton pricing is sitting at a strong $14 per carton. The catch: a deep freeze before month's end could leave a significant volume unharvested in the field, and Georgia's fall cabbage program is reportedly running delayed — creating a potential supply gap if New York gets cut short.
The most unusual development this season is demand from California. Disease and pest pressure on the West Coast has led buyers there to reach out to East Coast shippers — something Hansen Farms says it doesn't typically see. That extra demand is contributing to the firm carton pricing, even as bulk cabbage pricing remains softer.
For buyers managing cabbage programs through the fall transition, the key variables to watch are New York weather in early November and the timing of Georgia's ramp-up. If New York exits early and Georgia is still delayed, there could be a tight window on East Coast supply before Florida production fills in.