Unseasonably cool California weather this spring—along with persistently saturated soil from so much rainfall—is delaying growth in some crops and increasing susceptibility to fungus, according to experts, which could mean less availability and potentially higher prices at the grocery store.
Powdery mildew and fungal diseases thrive on excess moisture and farmers across the state are now preparing for preventative treatments this summer following an unusually wet winter.
“As the wet conditions continue, mildew … has become a growing concern for growers, and the delays in the season may put vineyards at risk … toward the end of harvest,” Natalie Collins, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. “Despite these setbacks, growers are grateful for … sufficient water supply this year.”…