Spring Weather Outlook Pt 2

Spring Weather Outlook Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. Our whacky El Nino weather pattern looks to be carrying over from winter into spring and beyond, leaving northwest growers wondering.

Washington state Climatologist, Nick Bond says the El Nino is weak so he expects things to be a little warmer with a bit of rain and rain here and there ...

BOND ... "And I know that is kind of a double-edged sword in that if you have cherries you're about to pick, you don't want any precipitation, but if on the other hand if your rangelands or if you're a dryland wheat farmer, maybe you do. So, it's, one size doesn't fit all."

Near term, Bond says things should be near normal ...

BOND ... "The bottom line is the next month, May should be not too different from typical. We'll still get some rain around, especially in Western Washington. You know the term 'April showers brings May showers'? And so, we'll get some of that."

This month, Bond says warm, yes, but not overly so ...

BOND ... "Here's hoping that May is pretty close to normal and we kind of hold on to the snow we have and maybe even, you know in some of the higher elevations in the Cascades, you can certainly get some snow there into early June even. And then, like you say, kind of be able to enjoy the summer that much more."

Bond says the odds for warmer than normal temperatures go up a little bit as we go into the middle of summer and hopes conditions will be good for growers.

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BL: Welcome back to another "Fruit Bites" brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us as always is Valent's Allison Walston. And this week Allison, tell me what fruit will be in-season in May?

AW: Well, May in the PNW is a little early for fruit, other than seeing the gorgeous blossoms and petals falling, but I thought we would have a monthly segment discussing all the fruit & produce that will become available in the month.

BL: Sounds good, I'm on board, after all I do enjoy eating seasonally fresh items and supporting our agricultural region at the same time.

AW: We might regret this in July and August when most crops are harvested. But back to May, there are a lot of greens, lettuces & herbs. Even some fresh mint just in time for those mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby.

BL: And no doubt with much less controversy ...

AW: The fastest 2 minutes in sports

BL: Yeah, we digress...

AW: Asparagus is wrapping up harvest in the Columbia Basin. Rhubarb, technically a vegetable but you can make pie & cake, so it's like a fruit. Freeze & save for strawberries in June!

BL: Ooh, my favorite, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I'm Bob Larson.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/pacific-northwest-seasonal-fruits-and-vegetables-2217163

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