Patterson, Calif.-based grower-packer Fantozzi Farms has made a plea on social media after a buyer for 500 tons of apricots pulled out just days before harvest.
Fantozzi Farms estimates that this would add up to more than 32,000 boxes. While the farm donated thousands of pounds of apricots to food banks, owners Paul and Denise Fantozzi say much of the fruit on trees started to drop and the weight of the apricots also caused some limbs to break.
That damage and stress could impact future productivity of the trees, they add.
The Fantozzis say they are trying to sell what they can at their fruit stand and have unloaded about 100 tons of the apricots so far that way.
“We have seen customers coming to us from all over Northern California and even as far away as Los Angeles and San Diego,” Denise Fantozzi told KCRA-TV in Sacramento. ”Many people and businesses, too, have reached out to us, and although we haven’t had any major buyers yet, we are still hopeful.”
