Why is cauliflower so expensive, when it's in season?!

I noticed it both here and in the city--crazy expensive! I figured I'll wait until it's in season, but just looked it up--and that's January / February! Turns out there's some kind of shortage, due to drought in CA. Meanwhile, cherries have arrived in NYC! Seems early, but they're as low as $3 a pound from the street vendors!

Cauliflower is this year's kale.  Seriously!

Last week it was 2/$5 at ShopRite.

Really?! Thanks! It's $5 each at Stop & Shop.

Cauliflower is always in season...somewhere. It is in season in NJ in the summer and local cauliflower is great.

Just had some. It was scrumptious.

Don't let Stop & Shop be your guide - they are one of the most exp grocery store chains around. Shoprite is one of the least exp. And yes, last week it was 2 for $5 and I ran to S&S this week, because I was short on time - $5 a head!

The weather is creating a shortage.

http://www.aerisweather.com/blog/cold-weather-leading-vegetable-shortage-heading-toward-holidays/

You're right -- cauliflower has been more expensive than comparable vegetables for a few years now. I can imagine it takes a while to get a good crop, judging from the size of the heads, and perhaps it's just not as popular so they figure they can charge whatever they want. I feel the same way about my beloved brussels sprouts! WHY are they so much?

valley_girl said:

Meanwhile, cherries have arrived in NYC! Seems early, but they're as low as $3 a pound from the street vendors!

Guessing they are Chilean, not from the traditional domestic sources in the Pacific Northwest.

It was $5 a few weeks ago at Shoprite as well!

As long as I can remember cauliflower has been relatively expensive. In the last 10 years, at times, it has been cheaper than I ever recall. 

Just picked up cauliflower, 2 for $5, right now at Whole Foods - 

good cauliflower recipes, please?

I really like this recipe for broccoli cauliflower mash. Not sure what makes it so tasty, but the combo is delish! http://www.marthastewart.com/938823/cauliflower-broccoli-mash

I'm pretty sure I bought a head of cauliflower at Ashley for $2.99 this week

yum! Thank you!

I think the growers' challenge with cauli is a firm, creamy white curd all over, with no grey or green spots by the time that you get it home. Timing is super-critical with this brassica. And buyers are hyper-fussy, whereas just a few years ago we' buy and cut out poorer quality florets. 

I now buy smaller amounts, more frequently. And I part-cook some when I can and freeze it (curries, stews etc, so it doesn't matter if the florets break down on thawing).

Farmers Market on route 10 next to Irvings deli has large heads for 2 for 3 dollars.  

I just bought a head of cauliflower at a farm store for $1.69---try not to buy vegetables in the supermarkets if you are counting pennies. 

Oh your soup recipe is Madhur Jaffrey's! She also has good recipes for roasted cauliflower. Want to make a fool proof curry, she is the source!

gerryl said:

Oh your soup recipe is Madhur Jaffrey's! She also has good recipes for roasted cauliflower. Want to make a fool proof curry, she is the source!

Thanks for pointing that out! I love her recipes, and it turns out that recipe is from a book I have!

joanne said:

I think the growers' challenge with cauli is a firm, creamy white curd all over, with no grey or green spots by the time that you get it home. Timing is super-critical with this brassica. And buyers are hyper-fussy, whereas just a few years ago we' buy and cut out poorer quality florets. 

Ha!  I thought that was just me...  One slight bruise and I'm all NOPE!

$2.99 this week at ShopRite. Not cheap, but not unreasonable.

Awww heck, I buy bags of frozen cauliflower.  It tastes just as good as fresh, probably fresher because it's flash frozen at the time it's picked, rather than several days later by the time it gets to your local store.

NYTimes "whole roasted cauliflower" recipe. Nut sauce is divine. Even I didn't screw it up!

addiemoose said:

NYTimes "whole roasted cauliflower" recipe. Nut sauce is divine. Even I didn't screw it up!

I assume you mean this one from last month -

http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017902-whole-roasted-cauliflower-with-almond-herb-sauce

I used that recipe last week, but didn't make the sauce with it.  I just put some spices into the olive oil that I rubbed over the cauliflower before roasting it. 

Do you guys find it stinks up the house while you are cooking it? I love the taste, but the one time I made cauliflower at home, the smell was so awful I never made it again.