It can be difficult to forecast with certainty what the Southern California strawberry crop will look like in winter, but as of early this year, grower-shippers were predicting ample supplies of good-quality berries.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for eight counties as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the state with high winds, damaging rain and heavy snowfall.
Castroville, Calif.-based Ocean Mist Farms says its winter artichoke season in Coachella, Calif., is well underway, peaking with harvests of its Gold Standard (green globe) artichokes.
Specialty crop growers, farm advocates and America's Conservation Ag Movement gathered at JSM Organics Farm in California in September 2023 for a bilingual field day to learn from conservation steward, Javier Zamora.
The commission said it had searched for a new consumer marketing agency that could conduct both consumer advertising and consumer public relations activities.
Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira Co. reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended Oct. 31 that reflected improved lemon pricing compared with a year ago.
Jacob "Jake" Samuel has helped build the premium dried fruit business into one of the leading suppliers of unsweetened, all-natural fruits for ingredient use.
“While the season got off to a late start, the overall quality and flavor of our fruit has been nothing short of excellent," said Bee Sweet Citrus sales representative Jason Sadoian.
When snow blankets much of the country’s farmland and temperatures drop to single digits, growers in California’s desert regions shift into high gear with their winter vegetable crops.
Daniel Hartwig will succeed Ian LeMay, who has held the position since 2019 and will depart CFFA to become president and CEO of the California Table Grape Commission.
The USDA, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, expanded the areas quarantined for Asian citrus psyllid in California on Nov. 6.
The commission says the new direction is "focused on the California brand with an emphasis on targeting and investment efficiencies,” which also included the hiring of an in-house marketing manager.
The Fresno, Calif.-based stone fruit producer has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, seeking a third-party sale or conversion of existing debt into equity ownership.
A recently published white paper has outlined the economic impact, environmental stewardship, research and community investments by strawberry growers across California.
California citrus harvest will be down slightly this year, says Randy Stucky, director of harvesting and grower relations for Bee Sweet Citrus, Fowler, Calif.
In this "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast episode, learn about an innovative approach to sustainability on farms from special guest Lilian Autler, Equitable Food Initiative's organizational and workforce development manager.
From the proliferation of compostable packaging options to a snack-sized supernova, fresh produce purveyors unveiled the most exciting updates and products at the 2023 Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim, Calif.
While greater amounts of rain were welcome in California citrus-growing regions in the past year, the downside has been exterior fruit damage caused by increased thrip populations.
Sunkist has a robust portfolio and steady supply extending to 40 varieties of both conventional and organic citrus, says Cassie Howard of Sunkist Growers Inc.
The company is celebrating the recent Equitable Food Initiative certification of its facility in Reedley, Calif., as its winter citrus program gets underway.
Soren Bjorn has been appointed as the next CEO of Driscoll’s, bringing with him 17 years leading programs and initiatives at the California-based global berry marketer.
After years of leadership, Don Gann is leaving the California-based fresh produce and floral advocacy organization positioned for its next chapter with a new president at the helm.
International Fresh Produce Association CEO Cathy Burns and current and incoming board of directors chairs say technology and innovation will be a constant drumbeat throughout the 2023 Global Produce & Floral Show.
California citrus growers faced significant pest challenges this season due to unprecedented rainfall and an explosion of citrus thrips in groves, according to an industry group.
In 2022, the value of agricultural commodities grown in Monterey County reached more than $4.6 billion, which is an increase of 13% over 2021, said county Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo.
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement has recently adopted Western Growers' GreenLink platform to collect and analyze food safety data from its member companies.
Sunview Marketing International is headed into a time of the year when the marketer will be going strong on several of its proprietary brands, says Mitch Wetzel, vice president of sales.
Rains from Hurricane Hilary caused variable damage to the fresh grape vineyards of Bari Produce LLC, says Justin Bedwell, president of the Fresno, Calif.-based marketer.
“It is not an overstatement to say that this program changed the table grape industry and the world of table grape breeding,” said Ross Jones, California Table Grape Commission senior vice president.
The newly patented table grape varietal, known as IFG Forty-one, is expected to extend Candy Snaps' availability in retail stores for several more weeks during the early-to-midsummer season.
If the largely favorable 2023 growing season and recent sales figures are any indication, this should be another good year for the coral-red fruit with leathery skin and jewel-like arils.
While official final shipment, inventory and closeout figures for the 2022 crop year will be released within the month, preliminary figures indicate last year’s crop is virtually sold out, according to a news release.
“The revised estimate for the California crop is 71.9 million 19-pound boxes,” said California Table Grape Commission President Kathleen Nave. “The last time the crop was under 75 million boxes was 1994.”
The third annual Race to Slow the Pace 5K and 10K fundraiser will give trail runners and community advocates a chance to help preserve farmland — and get a nice glass of wine and a bowl of paella at the same time.
Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) poses challenges to California farmers; new grant and matching funding seeks to stop the spread of the contagious disease.
“Our farmers and ranchers want to focus on producing America’s food supply, not on trying to become experts in procuring what was once routine insurance coverage,” said California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson.
The vertical, controlled environment agriculture greens grower says it’s doubling its retail footprint by expanding to Whole Foods Market and Gelson’s Markets California stores.
When Tropical Storm Hilary hit Southern California, Palm Springs received nearly 50% of its yearly rainfall in a matter of hours. While the deluge caused flooding, one area farmer is cautiously optimistic.
While the Golden State is producing almost two-thirds of peaches grown in the U.S., it’s harvest yields have been steadily declining for two decades, according to a USDA report.
“The reality is we are playing catch-up with a situation that has been worsening for decades exacerbated by drought, disease and even climate change,” farmer, rancher and firefighter Johnnie White testified to Congress.
The FARMS program has introduced careers in ag and environmental sciences to tens of thousands of high school youth, most with no previous access to these opportunities.
Almond crop production has kicked off this August with improved expectations that a heftier almond will offset the lowest almonds-per-acre-yield since 2009, according to a recent USDA report.