more and more like the time when we will need it is coming soon. Love you
all!
Alli
> February 8, 2011
> Mexico's Big Freeze
>
> ALL OF OUR GROWERS HAVE INVOKED THE ACT OF GOD CLAUSE ON OUR
> CONTRACTS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING RELEASE. WE WILL BE CONTACTING YOU
> PERSONALLY TO REVIEW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT OUR CONTRACTED ITEMS
> WITH YOU GOING FORWARD.
>
> THE DEVASTATING FREEZE IN MEXICO IS WORST FREEZE IN OVER 50 YEARS...
>
> THE EXTREME FREEZING TEMPERATURES HIT A VERY BROAD SECTION OF
> MAJOR GROWING REGIONS IN MEXICO, FROM HERMOSILLO IN THE NORTH ALL
> THE WAY SOUTH TO LOS MOCHIS AND EVEN SOUTH OF CULIACAN. THE EARLY
> REPORTS ARE STILL COMING IN BUT MOST ARE SHOWING LOSSES OF CROPS
> IN THE RANGE OF 80 TO 100%. EVEN SHADE HOUSE PRODUCT WAS HIT BY
> THE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPS. IT WILL TAKE 7-10 DAYS TO HAVE A
> CLEARER PICTURE FROM GROWERS AND FIELD SUPERVISORS, BUT THESE
> GROWING REGIONS HAVEN'T HAD COLD LIKE THIS IN OVER A HALF CENTURY.
> THIS TIME OF YEAR, MEXICO SUPPLIES A SIGNIFICANT PERCENT OF NORTH
> AMERICA'S ROW CROP VEGETABLES SUCH AS: GREEN BEANS, EGGPLANT,
> CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, PEPPERS, ASPARAGUS, AND ROUND AND ROMA TOMATOES.
> FLORIDA NORMALLY IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER FOR THESE ITEMS AS WELL BUT
> THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRUCK WITH SEVERE FREEZE DAMAGE IN DECEMBER
> AND JANUARY AND UP UNTIL NOW HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE PRODUCT OUT OF
> MEXICO TO FILL THEIR COMMITMENTS, THAT IS NO LONGER AND OPTION.
> WITH THE SERIES OF WEATHER DISASTERS THAT HAS OCCURRED IN BOTH OF
> THESE MAJOR GROWING AREAS WE WILL EXPERIENCE IMMEDIATE VOLATILE
> PRICES, EXPECTED LIMITED AVAILABILITY, AND MEDIOCRE QUALITY AT BEST.
> THIS WILL NOT ONLY HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON SUPPLIES,
> BUT BECAUSE OF VERY STRONG BLOSSOM DROPS, THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT
> SUPPLIES 30 – 60 DAYS FROM NOW. SOME GROWERS ARE MEETING WITH
> THEIR BOARDS RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD
> IMMEDIATELY RE-PLANT, HOPING FOR A HARVEST BY
> LATE-MARCH-TO-EARLY-APRIL, OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD DISC THE FIELDS
> UNDER AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER SEASON.
>
> We are doing everything we can with our growers to minimize the
> effect of this disaster on you. With the unprecedented magnitude
> of this event we wanted to immediately make you aware of the
> conditions. We will continue to send out communications as our
> people on the ground report back to us. We thank you and we
> appreciate your understanding during this time.
>
> Sysco Intermountain
