January 7, 2021
MARKET
Washington/E. Oregon:
John Vlahandreas with Wada Farms reported from his Salem, OR, office on Jan. 6. “We started the week pretty strong until everyone figured out what trucks are costing,” he said. “By the time you tack on freight to the price you need in order to get some return to the shipper and the grower, the demand starts to slip. This issue shouldn’t last long.” He added, “Availability on trucks should start picking up in the next couple of weeks, and we all have to remember this is the first year without Railex, so we’re adjusting to that, too. Pricing isn’t so hot right now, but that should change too when the Food Box Program kicks in the next couple of weeks. I guess folks are getting these boxes. I haven’t really heard of where they are all going, but if it’s helping families out and it’s a boost for our industry, that’s a very good thing.”