2019 WEATHER IMPACTS US HORSERADISH SUPPLY
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2019 WEATHER IMPACTS US HORSERADISH SUPPLY
EAU CLAIRE, WI – OCTOBER 31, 2019 – Silver Spring Foods, a subsidiary of Huntsinger Farms, the world’s largest grower and processor of horseradish, announced a general shortage of the increasingly popular condiment and ingredient, due to unusually harsh weather in Spring and Fall 2019.
Horseradish is used as a condiment, and as an ingredient in sauces, cocktails, marinades, cocktail sauces, salad dressings, and jellies.
Part of the mustard family, horseradish is a perennial plant that grows in the Midwest, Missouri, Northern California, as well as in the Middle East and Eastern regions of Canada, and parts of Europe, predominately Hungary, Germany, and England. The root thrives in cold-weather climates where it grows for 12-18 months, and then is stored in coolers between 32- and 40-degrees Fahrenheit. Seed sets are taken from the main root during harvest time and planted in new fields each Spring and Fall.
Huntsinger Farms has steadily increased its crops over the last 40 years and grows over 1,000 acres of horseradish in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In addition, the company contracts with other quality growers to fulfill demand for horseradish. Every horseradish farmer and producer known to Silver Spring Foods has experienced the same weather and crop dynamics this year.
“2019 was a double-whammy for US horseradish in terms of the weather,” said Eric Rygg, President of Silver Spring Foods. “While we’ve planted more horseradish than ever before, we’ve been unable to harvest it all on time due to the huge snow melt, a wet Fall and an early frost. And we are hearing the same from other horseradish farmers in the US, Canada and Europe.”
The company is working with other farmers and suppliers to procure as much quality horseradish as possible this year.
In order to prevent shortages in the future, Huntsinger Farms has planted more acreage and is exploring many other strategies to fulfill the growing demand for the “hot” root.
A record-breaking snowfall early in 2019 saw 97.9” of snow in Eau Claire County in Wisconsin where over half of Silver Spring Foods 2019 crops are planted. This caused an extremely wet and muddy Spring, which delayed harvesting and planting. In addition, September and October were more wet than usual across the Midwest which delayed Fall harvesting and planting. In addition, an early frost in Northern Minnesota has trapped the Fall harvest in the ground until Spring 2020.
“We are at the mercy of Mother Nature,” explained Rygg. “And we’re doing everything we can to increase crop yields to meet the demand for horseradish.”
About Silver Spring Foods
Silver Spring Foods is a subsidiary of Huntsinger Farms, Inc., the world’s largest grower and processor of horseradish. The company, which has been family owned and operated since 1929, processes, packages, and markets horseradish along with a variety of specialty mustards and other quality food products to retail, food service, private label and industrial customers. In 2020 Huntsinger Farms will host Wisconsin Technology Farm Days, the largest agricultural show in Wisconsin and one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including many practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments. Visit www.silverspringfoods.com for more information about products and recipes, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
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Media Contact:
Melannie Wurm, Double Forte for Silver Spring Foods
415-500-0613
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