A salad craze at fast-food joints and a rise in romaine lettuce
production have helped San Benito County raise its crop values by
$24 million this year.
A salad craze at fast-food joints and a rise in romaine lettuce production have helped San Benito County raise its crop values by $24 million this year.
County Agriculture Commissioner Paul Matulich released the 2003 crop report Tuesday and is hopeful the consistent increase in values over the past few years will continue.
“The ag business seems to be holding its own and hopefully it will continue that way,” Matulich said.
The report showed an 11 percent increase in total revenue with a 2003 total of nearly $239 million, with leaf lettuce jumping by $10 million alone.
But Farmer Steve Nishita, who has been growing lettuce for decades, said last year was an “anomaly” and if growers broke even in the years before, they should consider themselves lucky.
“Everyone had been losing money in the past, but last year McDonald’s and Burger King decided to make salad menus and the processors had to fill the contracts when they got them and make sure they had them all covered,” he said. “When they needed more lettuce to fill their contracts, the demand was high and the supply of lettuce was low.”
Nishita said 2004 already is looking bad as the demand has already dwindled back down and there is an abundance of supply.
“We’re already back in the red, but, as a farmer, I just try and stay optimistic,” he said.
Wine grapes also increased in value in 2003. As San Benito County continues to prove and establish its award-winning wine reputation, it’s apparent buyers are catching on to the popularity of the rare grapes grown in this region, according to Matulich. In 2003, $22 million worth of grapes were sold, which is roughly $6 million more than 2002.
Matulich said because of the micro climates and the wide array of varietals that can be grown in the region, the price of San Benito county grapes have gone up.
“Many wineries are looking for blends and they can only find those types of grapes here,” he said.
Ralph Hurd, assistant wine maker at DeRose Vineyards agrees. DeRose Vineyards grows and harvests some of the only Negrette grapes in the world. With only 180 acres in the entire world, 130-year-old vines like his are hard to find, and Hurd said it brings up their price and demand for wine makers. Along with its rare varietals, the county’s wine region is gaining recognition for the quality of its wine and, in turn, the prices are going up.
“I think our name is starting to get out there,” Hurd said.
Although not all farming seasons are as stellar as 2003, Matulich said he hopes this will encourage the farmers to continue to grow.
“We need the agriculture community to continue to feed the world,” he said. “2003 was a good year and hopefully it will continue to prosper for years to come.”
