Plant Materials Center update: February 2, 2022
Here are 5 things that you should know about the PMC for February 2, 2022:
Sales
Saying that sales are brisk would be an understatement. They are so brisk that there has not been time to generate a new sales report. Last week sales were running 35% ahead of the same time last year. If there has been any change to that number it would be up. Sales Manager Jacquie Gauthier has been keeping quite busy fielding inquiries, posting orders, arranging for pickups and shipping, and making last-minute changes to all of the above upon request.
Harvest
Harvest numbers have increased by over 100,000 plants since this time last week. That may sound like a lot but the numbers are off with people out due to COVID and other things. As the crew size returns to normal the pace will increase and harvest numbers will get back to where they should be for this time of year.
Shipping
As mentioned in last week’s update, shipping is running at a record-smashing pace. Over 100,000 plants have been shipping out every week in recent weeks. (Not that we are complaining!) As much work as it is, we know that we are avoiding even bigger shipping weeks later in the season and we are keeping the cooler from filling up since plants are leaving as fast as they come in from the field. Another benefit is the need for refrigerated trailers should be reduced which saves money and a ton of work. Storing excess plants in the refer vans is a pain.
Upcoming
See above!
Weather
The weather has been fairly dry and seasonable. Like it or not, that is about as good as it gets this time of year. The bigger weather concern today is what Punxsutawney Phil had to say today about the rest of winter going forward. He was yanked out of his cozy tree trunk at Gobbler’s Knob, PA only to see his shadow. He pronounced that winter will continue for six more weeks and then returned to his den to warm up and catch some more sleep. The big question is will that prognostication apply to the PNW. Not only did we not see our shadow we saw snowflakes! I think that the PNW should have its own winter weather predictor and call it Sammy Slug. Either way, there is not anything we can do about that, winter will go away when it goes away and any signs of spring will be heralded.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Jim Brown, WACD PMC Nursery Manager
https://wacdpmc.org/about-us