May weather will be critical to the timing of Ohio’s vegetable deal, according to Loren Buurma, treasurer of Buurma Farms.
What occurred in February, March and April isn’t so terribly important, but, for the most part in 2020, early spring weather has been good for the large vegetable grower, which is based in Willard, OH.
“We’re on schedule,” Buurma said on April 28. “It’s been ‘ok’ weather. It’s been cool but the planting is on schedule. Planting was slightly sporadic based on the weather, but assuming May weather is good, everything will be on schedule.”
Despite national disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic, Buurma is receiving news that H-2A labor will arrive on schedule, with the expected number of workers. “We have been assured by our crew leader that they are coming,” he said. “Some of the people out of Texas have appeared already with the remainder arriving in the next few weeks.”
Radish harvest kicks off the firm’s vegetable deal and early indications are the radishes will first be pulled about May 20.
By June 1, turnips, mustard seed, cilantro and dill will be on the market. By June 7, Buurma Farms should be shipping red and green lettuce, escarole, endive, romaine, collards and kale. Green onions, curly and flat parsley will be on the market by June 15. Late June should bring zucchini, yellow squash, cabbage and beets. Various sizes and packs of cucumbers will be shipped from July 3 to Oct. 3. Buurma’s yellow, white and bi-color sweet corn shipping is expected to run from about July 20 to Oct. 3.
Buurma said his family operation slightly adjusts planting volumes of its 25-plus commodities each year. Normally those adjustments, up or down, are by 5 to 10 percent. This season there is a 20 percent adjustment on some items. The adjustments are based on a variety of factors surrounding each commodity and customer.
Anticipating vegetable markets for late-spring and summer, Buurma noted that in the early spring “the stores where we shop have good supplies” of vegetables.
As Buurma enters the deal they hope to get the local supermarkets on board. “For us, it’s more of the same promoting our home-grown products,” he said.
