The Siberian Express low pressure trough pulled into California, not on time but at a bad time!

The majority of the California Citrus Crop was still on the trees, new crop Avocados waiting for the oil content to peak, and new crop lettuce in the desserts of Yuma Arizona lay waiting for harvest. The freeze didn't stop there, it pushed South down into the delicious sweet strawberries of Oxnard and continued into the Tomato fields of the Baja.

The hard cold freeze has passed but the result will be felt for some time to come. The effects of this extreme weather are likely to have a ripple effect on our supply through the spring: the cold temperatures have slowed the growth rate of what is already in the ground . No matter how carefully the farmers plan they are always at the mercy of Mother Nature. Because of this extraordinary weather supplies of both commodities and packaged salads will be volatile through the spring. Shortages and quality issues will be seen through that time.

It is our commitment to bring the best of what is availble to our stores at all times and we will make every effort to advise in advance of pending situations. We sincerely apologize to our customers for any inconvenience. We thank you for your understanding and look forward to continuing to serve you.

Tom Wheeler

Director of Produce Operations

Mollie Stone's Markets