Latest News From California

Gabriel Andrade, sales manager for Progressive Produce, says the company is beginning harvest of California chili peppers.
Progressive Produce begins harvest of California chili peppers

Los Angeles-based Progressive Produce has begun harvesting the first fields of its jalapeno, Anaheim, and pasilla chili peppers.

California table grape growers give scholarships

Table grape growers in California awarded nine California college students with scholarships.

USDA forecasts record California almond crop
USDA forecasts record California almond crop

California is forecast to have another record almond crop this year, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimating an increase of almost 18% over last season’s crop.

California garlic harvest starts as pandemic boosts demand
California garlic harvest starts as pandemic boosts demand

Christopher Ranch, Gilroy, Calif., has started its annual harvest, packing up to a million pounds of fresh garlic every week during its peak.

LGMA charts course to achieve food safety goals
LGMA charts course to achieve food safety goals

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement has a new subcommittee that focuses on how land adjacent to leafy greens fields might contribute to foodborne illness outbreaks from romaine lettuce.

Farm Credit creates endowment fund at Cal Poly

Farm Credit donated nearly $255,000 to create an endowment fund for agribusiness students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Onion suppliers anticipate good year
Onion suppliers anticipate good year

California’s onion season got underway in mid-April in the desert region around Brawley, and production in other regions of the state will get underway on-time around June 1, grower-shippers say.

Pretty Lady Vineyards offers new package options
Pretty Lady Vineyards offers new package options

New package options are on tap for McFarland, Calif.-based Pretty Lady Vineyards.

LGMA considers water standard updates, soil amendments next

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, is reviewing updated processes relating to water metrics and soil amendments.

California pear growers pledge to use no anti-ripening treatments
California pear growers pledge to use no anti-ripening treatments

Nature knows best for California pear growers.

California cherry growers focus on COVID-19 precautions
California cherry growers focus on COVID-19 precautions

Harvest of the California cherry crop, estimated at 7 million 18-pound boxes, is underway in southern growing regions near Bakersfield and Fresno.

Cal-Organic’s new crop of onions shipping soon

Cal-Organic Farms, Bakersfield, Calif., is preparing to ship new crop yellow, red and white onions from the Coachella Valley in mid-May.

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Leafy greens growers expected to reduce acreage
Leafy greens growers expected to reduce acreage

Fresh fruit sales were up about 9% for the four-week period, while fresh vegetable sales were up 25%.

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California sees $3.64 million boost for produce donations
California sees $3.64 million boost for produce donations

California’s Farm to Family Program, a state agriculture program that boosts donations to food banks, has received a boost of $3.64 million as charities see unprecedented demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

California table grape acreage in 2019 same as 2018

California table grape acreage for the 2019 crop, at 121,000 acres, was unchanged from the previous season’s acreage.

LA produce markets: Buyers elusive, especially for foodservice
LA produce markets: Buyers elusive, especially for foodservice

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on produce sales is playing out at terminal markets across the country, including the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market.

California pear season to start on time in July

After two years of late harvest starts, the California pear crop will be on a normal schedule, with harvest starting in early July.

California LGMA CEO Scott Horsfall plans 2021 retirement
California LGMA CEO Scott Horsfall plans 2021 retirement

Scott Horsfall, who has been the CEO of the of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement since it was established in 2007, plans to retire next March.

Organic Produce Summit in July canceled due to COVID-19
Organic Produce Summit in July canceled due to COVID-19

The 2020 Organic Produce Summit, scheduled for July 8-9 in Monterey, Calif., is canceled due to the impact of COVID-19. 

California ag secretary thanks distributors, retailers
California ag secretary thanks distributors, retailers

California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross has penned a thank-you letter for retailers and food distributors across the country.

California offers wide selection of cherry varieties
California offers wide selection of cherry varieties

Bing, brooks and coral champagne are a few of the most popular cherry varieties grown in California, and some growers toss in a few of their own favorites.

California’s cherry crop should be up slightly
California’s cherry crop should be up slightly

California cherry growers expect to harvest slightly more fruit this season than last year, assuming they don’t see a repeat of the heavy rainfall that devastated much of their fruit last May.

Demand soars at food banks amid coronavirus pandemic
Demand soars at food banks amid coronavirus pandemic

Demand for fresh produce has skyrocketed at food banks from coast to coast since the COVID-19 pandemic forced non-essential businesses to close, leaving many workers without pay.

Limoneira donates lemons to health care workers
Limoneira donates lemons to health care workers

Limoneira, Santa Paula, Calif., is donating cartons of lemons to health care professionals, food banks and other agencies.

California's Imperial Valley sweet corn harvest is near.
California sweet corn harvest nears

California sweet corn harvest is right around the corner.

California Giant strawberry season to see heavy volume
California Giant strawberry season to see heavy volume

California strawberry season has kicked off, with berries in the Salinas/Watsonville area starting at the end of March to meet increased demand of berries spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Avocado packers seek sustainable alternatives
Avocado packers seek sustainable alternatives

The volume of bagged avocados continues to increase every year as consumers seek convenience and/or value options, and retailers discover another way to merchandise avocados and drive sales of multiple pieces of fruit.

Eco Farms doubles avocado bagging capacity
Eco Farms doubles avocado bagging capacity

Eco Farms, Temecula, Calif., has doubled the ripening capacity in its packinghouse, said Gahl Crane, sales director.

Mission Produce hires Mike Browne
Mission Produce hires Mike Browne

Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., has hired Mike Browne as chief operating officer, according to a news release.

Del Rey avocado facility is up and running
Del Rey avocado facility is up and running

Del Rey Avocado Co. Inc.’s new preconditioning, storage and bagging operation in Vista, Calif., is up and running, said partner Bob Lucy.

Index Fresh on the cutting edge of GEM avocado variety
Index Fresh on the cutting edge of GEM avocado variety

Several California growers offer the new GEM avocado, but credit for bringing the variety to the forefront should go to Index Fresh Inc., Riverside, Calif.

Coronavirus causes uncertainty with California avocado crop
Coronavirus causes uncertainty with California avocado crop

An air of uncertainty was hanging over California’s avocado industry in early March as news reports described the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

California avocado crop rebounds
California avocado crop rebounds

California’s avocado crop is expected to rebound in 2020, with the state’s growers shipping 369 million pounds — about a 70% increase over last year — according to the Irvine-based California Avocado Commission.

Inspections of leafy greens uninterrupted by virus
Inspections of leafy greens uninterrupted by virus

Inspections of California and Arizona leafy greens, as outlined in the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements for those crops, continue despite the spread of COVID-19.

The Packer reschedules West Coast, Sustainable shows for August
The Packer reschedules West Coast, Sustainable shows for August

The West Coast Produce Expo and the Sustainable Produce Summit, presented by The Packer and Farm Journal, are being postponed until August due to concerns about the coronavirus COVID-19.

New avocado commission ads have that California vibe

The California Avocado Commission, Irvine, has a new advertising campaign, transforming the letters “C” and “A” in avocados to iconic representation of what the state has to offer.

California table grape growers hear about research, promotions
California table grape growers hear about research, promotions

California table grape grower-shippers recently met to discuss the latest research and trends, along with promotions for the next marketing year.

California growers expecting good, typical season
California growers expecting good, typical season

Good weather this winter should result in plentiful supplies of top-notch spring produce from California’s grower-shippers.

FDA outlines 2020 plan to stop E. coli outbreaks from leafy greens
FDA outlines 2020 plan to stop E. coli outbreaks from leafy greens

The Food and Drug Administration has released its game plan for the year on resolving repeated E. coli outbreaks from romaine lettuce

Oceanside Pole Brussels sprouts available until June

Before the Oceanside Pole tomato crop, the Oceanside Calif., grower is marketing Brussels sprouts through The Oppenheimer Group.

USDA sets hearing on California walnut marketing order changes
USDA sets hearing on California walnut marketing order changes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has scheduled a public hearing for changes to the marketing order for California walnuts.

Western Association of Food Chains introduces Fresh Focus Exchange
Western Association of Food Chains introduces Fresh Focus Exchange

The Western Association of Food Chains is launching Fresh Focus Exchange at its convention to provide more opportunities for business development and gain greater participation of perishable food suppliers.

California Giant invites retail and foodservice chefs to compete
California Giant invites retail and foodservice chefs to compete

Expect a new theme, new location and new guidelines at the 3rd Annual Chef Invitational July 19-22, hosted by California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonville, Calif.

Sheehan Genetics to open table grape varietal innovation center
Sheehan Genetics to open table grape varietal innovation center

Table grape breeder Sheehan Genetics LLC, Fresno, Calif., is building a research and development facility for new varieties for growers in California and the Americas.

San Miguel evolution shifts greens supply to other growers
San Miguel evolution shifts greens supply to other growers

Increased regulations and other issues have prompted San Miguel Produce to reduce Ventura County, Calif., acreage and partner with other growers across North America to ensure a year-round supply.

Adam Borchard joins California Fresh Fruit Association

The California Fresh Fruit Association, Fresno, has hired Adam Borchard as director of government and public policy.

Dennis 'Denny' Donovan of Garin Co., Dole, remembered

Dennis “Denny” Donovan, who spent almost three decades of his career at the Garin Co., Salinas, has died.

California increases HLB quarantine areas

State and federal agencies have expanded California’s huanglongbing quarantined area after detections of the citrus disease.

Wonderful Citrus lease helps year-round seedless lemon goal
Wonderful Citrus lease helps year-round seedless lemon goal

Wonderful Citrus has signed a long-term lease with the owners of an 846-acre tract of land in California’s Salinas Valley with plans to grow seedless lemons on the land.

Virus delays California Prune Board trip to China
Virus delays California Prune Board trip to China

The California Prune Board, Roseville, is postponing a trip to China because of the coronavirus, but says exporters are committed to the market and will reschedule its visit when possible.