Mo. (KCTV) – Farmers and shoppers at City Market say weeks of heat are changing the produce for sale, from faster ripening to softer peppers
Michael McFarland, a third-generation farmer with McFarland Plant Farms, said the dry heat is stressing his pepper and tomato plants.
“The biggest thing of it is everything’s just getting so dry out there that pepper plants and stuff is starting to wilt,” McFarland said. “Everything’s wanting to turn red at one time. Instead of it taking its time to get to a certain stage, it’s just, it’s speeding the process up.”
McFarland said the quicker ripening process comes with a side effect: softer produce.
“Some customers pick a pepper up and say, oh, it’s a little soft,” McFarland said. “And it’s like, well, you’re out in the heat for two days, you’re going to be a little soft, too.”
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Shopper Sammi Sader said she has also noticed a difference in the produce.
“I think things are always going to be a little bit riper, right, if it’s hot out,” Sader said. “So, maybe slightly, but not to the point where I wouldn’t buy it.”
McFarland has had a stall at City Market since 1977. He said unpredictable weather is something farmers expect.
“It’s something that’s normal,” McFarland said. “Next year might be cooler, but it may be a lot wetter. So you never, you never can tell.”
“Just deal with whatever Mother Nature gives you,” McFarland said.
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