Produce Crops
Tony Campos, owner of International Citrus & Produce, says a new crop of Mexican limes is expected in mid-April, mainly sizes 230s and 250s and trending smaller.
The state has had historic cool weather that delayed the onset of the state’s cherry bloom.
The Elgin, Minn.-based company says the program supplies apples that are custom packed in sizes and specifications that best meet retailers’ needs.
The new variety is typically sold from January through June; however, this year’s supply is projected to sell out early due to a rapid rise in popularity.
Despite the Golden State experiencing record rain followed by a levee break, a strong outlook remains for the upcoming crop.
Beachside Produce, a full-line, year-round, grower-shipper of vegetables and strawberries, has expanded acreage of some of its core items this year, says Steve Adlesh, partner with the California-based company.
There will be some harvest gaps for vegetable crops in the next few weeks but better supply is coming, says Crystal Chavez, marketing coordinator for Gold Coast Packing Inc., Santa Maria, Calif.
Retail per capita availability of fresh lemons jumped from 3.3 pounds in 2011 to 4.7 pounds in 2020, a gain of 42% during that time, according to USDA statistics.
The USDA reported total cherry shipments from California’s San Joaquin Valley in 2022 totaled 2,256 truckloads, down 59% from 4,442 truckloads in 2021.
Analysts expect South African citrus exports to the U.S. to grow in 2023 despite mixed production trends among citrus varieties, according to a USDA report.
The forecast and anticipated arrivals into the U.S. will continue to be lower than expected for the next two to three months, according to the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association.
Both Washington and Oregon potato output was down for the 2022 season, and prices have been elevated through mid-2023.
Despite a cold spring, Washington potato growers are anticipating a good crop for 2023, says Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington Potato Commission.
Following the recent frosts and rains in Chile, the Citrus Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) has revised its export projections for the 2023-24 season.
The Willard, Ohio, growing area had some extremely dry growing conditions this spring and early summer, but local growers say that helps them produce the best quality vegetables for their customers.
Summer Citrus from South Africa has started its shipping season with high-quality arrivals in the U.S., the group says.
Stemilt Growers is offering its biggest and best dark sweet cherries in July under the Kyle’s Pick label.
Purchases will be made with the purpose of encouraging the continued domestic consumption of these products by diverting them from the normal channels of trade and commerce, the USDA says.
GLC Cerritos says it has a year-round supply direct from the grower, with the firm having more than 2,900 acres of hass avocados in key areas of Mexico with varying altitudes.
The USDA is terminating Marketing Order No. 922, which regulates the handling of apricots grown in designated counties in Washington state.
Jersey Fresh has been raising awareness of Garden State fruits and vegetables for decades, and the work continues in 2023.
“Despite a late start to the harvest season due to unusually warm weather, producers expect a solid crop later in the year,” the report said.
Carrots are in full swing in Colorado, some onions will start shipping in mid-September and Palisade peaches are winding down for the season, grower-shippers say.
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 work includes levee repairs and debris removal to help protect and prepare local communities in anticipation of another possible wet season
Most Florida specialty crop growers were spared damage from Hurricane Idalia, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association reports.
Keystone Fruit Marketing has been an integral part of the onion supply chain from Peru for over 30 years, says Matthew Gideon, sales and commodity manager for the Greencastle, Pa.-based marketer.
“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.”
That is the view of the World Apple and Pear Association, according to a report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Association.