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EDITOR’S VIEW By Tim Linden The Excitement of Seasonality Iwas recently interviewing long- time Southern California organic produce salesman David Wein- stein of Heath & Lejeune Soully Organic about the October gap in blueberry supplies. He noted that weather conditions in the Pacific Northwest, Mexico and South America had combined to create the lack of supplies and the result- ing sky-high market. He opined: “We live in the land of everything, all the time, for cheap. People want their blueber- ries on their Cheerios in the morn- ing no matter what time of year it is.” While weather-related produce supply gaps are not unusual, and never have been, they are occur- ring much more often as the entire world is being hit with extreme weather conditions on an ongo- ing and increasing basis as climate change grips us all. Of course, these extreme weather events have caused major problems around the world far greater than a lack of inexpensive blueberries or other produce in the early fall. But there is a connection. Moving fresh produce, and every- thing else, around the world is a stressor for our planet. Weinstein would like to see the organic fresh produce world embrace seasonality. He argues that there is more excitement to the beginning and end of a season. That excitement diminishes when there is no beginning nor end but just a transition from one area to the next...even when that next area is halfway across the planet. And he indicates that the organic produc- ers, who typically tout their more environmentally friendly prac- tices, lose some of the impact of that argument when that product has to be shipped to a consumer thousands upon thousands of miles away. It’s one thing to ship produce across the country; it’s another to ship it across the hemisphere. Weinstein makes an interesting point. Locally grown and seasonal produce has always had a compel- ling story to tell. It is why sea- sonal farmers’ markets have thrived throughout the United States, and tourists flock to open-air markets around the world whether visiting France, Thailand or Argentina. But we are not going to be able to put the world trade genie back in the bottle. And there are certainly advan- tages. The health value of being able to offer a wide assortment of nutritious food to all corners of the planet at a reasonable price is also a compelling story. I suspect there are scholars somewhere comparing the risks and rewards to mankind and its planet of the system in which we live. I will say that the excitement of seasonality of which Weinstein spoke is a real thing. Though most produce categories seem to offer year-round supplies from some- where, there are still many seasonal players in our industry. There are the cherry growers who have two- month crops if they are a lucky. And the many growers in the colder climates that can’t plant until spring and must harvest before the cold arrives in fall. There are the short tree fruit crop seasons from coast to coast and even the fall apple crop, which is marketed all year round but must be harvested in a tight window. I have been writing fresh produce industry stories for many decades and it is always a treat to talk to growers and shippers at the beginning of their unique season. Their excitement level is typically much greater than that year-round producer in a more weather friendly area. Hope springs eternal at the beginning of the season as they dream of perfect produce and a perfect market. If you could bottle that feeling, demand would definitely exceed supply. 4