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Good growing weather this winter should result in some exceptional fruit and vegetable crops out of California’s Salinas Valley this season.

Duty-free access to the U.S. market is one factor in rising production and exports of South African citrus, according to a new report.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited March 25 with Christopher Valdez, president, and Abby Taylor-Silva, vice president of policy and communications, for the Salinas-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.

It’s hard to say what, if any, impact COVID-19 will have on sales of organic vegetables, but growers in California’s Salinas Valley tend to remain optimistic.

Growers Express, which sells cut vegetables under the Green Giant Fresh brand and has seen demand rise “significantly” over the past year for its Veggie Meal Bowls and its Fresh brand Little Gems lettuce hearts.

Lucky Strike Farms, Burlingame, Calif., is working closely with Fresno, Calif.-based Fowler Packing Co., and the arrangement seems to be working out well.

Gonzalez, Calif.-based Misionero Vegetables has gone through significant changes since the Harbinger Group LLC acquired the company in 2016, said Nicole Zapata, marketing manager.

Hitchcock Farms has completed its transition from the Southern California desert region to its spring/summer/fall home in Salinas, said Dan Holt, vice president of sales and marketing.

Total South Africa citrus exports will reach record levels in 2020 and exports to the U.S. also are setting new highs.

The season for South African citrus in the U.S. is near.