Cornell Study Warns California Drought Could Cut Broccoli Shipments 20%, Backs 10-State East Expansion
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 18
Cornell Study Warns California Drought Could Cut Broccoli Shipments 20%, Backs 10-State East Expansion
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 18
Summary
More than 90% of U.S. fresh broccoli comes from California, and Cornell researchers estimate the state's shipments could drop nearly 9% in moderate drought and more than 20% in severe drought.
A model published in Agribusiness found expanding broccoli production across 10 Eastern states could cushion those losses by shifting output north through the year as seasons change.
Under severe drought, that Eastern expansion could trim annual supply-chain costs by about $10 million and cut transport distances to Eastern markets by roughly 20%.
California growers disputed any reading that a 20% drop reflects a past collapse, saying the figure is a statistical average from 2000-2019 drought correlations and that coastal farms have adapted through irrigation and crop management.
The study frames East Coast growth as a diversification strategy rather than a replacement for California, which would still remain the country's main broccoli source despite its own drought risk.