Produce Crops
The company said it will quadruple its greenhouse-grown berry production for the 2024-25 season.
Vegetables, potatoes and melons were impacted by the storm’s heavy winds and flooding, according to a University of Florida report.
Table grape production is projected to rise as California makes a full recovery from last year’s damage from Hurricane Hilary.
The multiyear initiative with New Zealand-based Prevar will focus on advancing breeding techniques for apples and pears.
Mandarin production is forecast to increase by 13.1%, according to a new USDA report.
The country’s avocado production in the marketing year from July 2024 to June 2025 is expected to be up 33.3% from the previous season.
The company says its next organic clementine varieties, including satsumas, are also “eating exceptionally well.”
While the majority of the newly quarantined area is residential, this restriction adds 0.4 acres of commercial citrus.
The total U.S. volume of oranges was projected at 60.3 million boxes, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service January forecast.
Quality is excellent this season for most of its commodities, though sizing for oranges and lemons will be a bit smaller than last year, the company’s president said.
With the Vidalia season around the corner, Bland Farms says it will share insights about this year’s crop.
Harvest already is underway for some growers, and others are expected to start clipping onions by mid-March.
Cold weather and some light rain in February have affected early numbers for the crop, but growers expect things to pick up relatively soon.