SALINAS VALLEY — Broccoli and cauliflower supplies from California’s Salinas Valley and Santa Maria were severely limited in early 2026 due to freezing temperatures and heavy rain, leading to higher prices and reduced availability through late May 2026. The weather disruptions heavily impacted fresh harvests and production of both vegetables during the first months of the year.
Cauliflower supplies from the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria were extremely limited as of April 29, 2026, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative. Recent and upcoming rainy conditions in California may lead to black mold, mildew, and off-color in fresh cauliflower supplies, the cooperative added.
California broccoli supplies were also limited in early 2026 due to cold temperatures. The quality of the state’s broccoli during that period ranged from fair to good, Markon Cooperative reported. To offset the shortfall, broccoli supplies from Mexico were meeting demand, with Mexican-grown broccoli described as good in quality.
Consumers could expect higher pricing and limited supplies of both cauliflower and broccoli until late May 2026. Retail fresh vegetable prices rose 0.9 percent from February 2026 to March 2026, and were up 7.5 percent year over year in March 2026, according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In April 2026, the USDA forecasted that overall food prices would rise 2.9 percent in 2026.
Rising fuel costs were expected to impact produce supplies shipped or trucked into the United States in early 2026. Additionally, in 2025, cauliflower prices fluctuated by roughly 230%, the largest shift of any ingredient tracked, according to data from MarginEdge cited by Food & Wine.