California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Citrus

  • CDFA Accepting Proposals for Riverside County Grower Liaison

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is currently accepting proposals for its Request for Proposal for a contractor to serve as the Riverside County grower liaison. Proposals must be received by Nov. 18. Responsibilities may include conducting outreach directly to growers in Riverside County, providing them up-to-date information on the latest industry news or updates, staying engaged in CDFA activities, communicating voluntary or mandatory treatments Riverside County and more.

    The battle to save California citrus from the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB) is a collaborative effort that involves local, county, state and federal officials, researchers, scientists and commercial citrus growers. To help facilitate pest management and disease eradication, grower liaisons are key pieces to that puzzle and are dedicated to serving a specific region in the fight against HLB.

    This position requires a fundamental knowledge of citrus production, a working knowledge of grove operations, and the relationship between growers, shippers and allied businesses that work in the area of pest and disease control. A Pest Control Advisor’s license is desirable, but not required. The contractor should be familiar with California agriculture and specifically its citrus industry. Knowledge of the ACP and HLB is desirable.

    To submit a bid for the contract, you must follow these steps:

    • Visit ca.gov, if you do not have a profile you must register for one in order to view the Request for Proposal (RFP).
    • Once logged in, visit the Get Public Procurement Information page and select “See current bids.”
    • Under “Search Events,” type in “Asian Citrus Psyllid Outreach and Education.”
    • Once on the Events Details page, click “View Event Package,” then under the “View Attachments” area, click “view” to download the official Request for Proposal. Once there, you should be able to view the full RFP and Start a Bid if you meet the qualifications. Please note, you must have a profile and be logged in to view the RFP.

    Proposals are due to CDFA by Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. The term of this contract is Dec. 1, 2020 or upon final signature, whichever is later, through Nov. 30, 2022.

    For additional questions, contact Contracts Analyst Donna Weber at donna.weber@cdfa.ca.gov.

  • Turkey Increases Stone Fruit Production, Strengthens Position Among Top Exporters

    The total cherry production forecast in Turkey in Marketing Year (MY) 2020/21 is 918,000 metric tons (MT), which is 72,000 MT more than MY 2019/20. The peach and nectarine production forecast for MY 2020/21 is 870,000 MT, 40,000 MT more than MY 2019/20. Stone fruit exports are increasing due to abundant production and strong demand from the Russian and EU markets. Turkey aims to improve its exports of fresh sweet cherries to China. Read the full report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, covering cherries, peaches, and nectarines, HERE.

  • Heat Damaged Groves MAY BE Eligible for Tree Assistance Program Funding

    California Avocado Commission— In early September much of California experienced excessive heat, including many avocado growing regions. A few growing areas reported sustained temperatures of around 120 degrees. Understandably, due to this extreme heat some trees are experiencing severe damage. The California Avocado Commission immediately contacted the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to pursue possible funding for growers under the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).

    Under the TAP, “To be considered an eligible loss: Eligible trees, bushes, or vines must have suffered more than a 15 percent mortality loss in a stand (adjusted for normal mortality) due to an eligible natural disaster.” Here is a TAP Fact Sheet.

    However, FSA has ruled “heat” is not an eligible event under the TAP program. In 2016, when a similar heat event occurred resulting in California avocado tree damage, the Commission was successful in getting FSA to include heat-related damage. Considering that FSA currently lists “freeze” (an extreme low temperature event) as a TAP-eligible event, there seems to be no basis to exclude extreme high temperature events.

    The Commission is once again strongly advocating with FSA for the inclusion of “heat” as an eligible natural disaster and therefore inclusion in the TAP. As the Commission continues to pursue eligibility for the recent heat event, FSA is asking growers to submit their TAP application if they believe they have suffered the minimum threshold of damage. At this point, pending the FSA final determination, the applications will be rejected. Growers must then ask for an appeal.

    While submitting a TAP application now —knowing it will initially be rejected — is not ideal, there is a 90-day timeline that must be adhered to for any future ruling on eligibility. According to TAP growers must apply “within 90 calendar days of the disaster event; or the date when the loss is apparent to the producer.” Thus, in order to ensure growers meet the 90-day rule, they should apply for TAP now while the Commission continues to advocate for the inclusion of “heat” as an eligible event. If growers do not apply within the prescribed 90 days of the heat event or appearance of loss, they will not be eligible for TAP in the event FSA rules in our favor.

    If you believe your grove may meet the 15% mortality loss, you are encouraged to apply. The Commission will continue to work with FSA and keep you posted as additional information becomes available. 

    Applications can be submitted to your local FSA office as follows:

    Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties:
    Santa Barbara County Farm Service Agency
    Brenda Estrada, County Executive Director
    920 E Stowell Rd., Santa Maria, CA 93454-7008
    (805) 928-9269; (844) 206-7010 Fax
    Brenda.Estrada@ca.usda.gov

    Riverside, San Diego Counties:
    Riverside County Farm Service Agency
    81077 Indio Blvd. Ste. A, Indio, CA 92201
    (760) 347-3675; (844) 206-6978 Fax
    Desiree.Garza@usda.gov

  • New California Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey

    USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Field Office conducted the Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey for the first time this year. A sample of 271 Tango, W. Murcott Afourer, and White Murcott Mandarin varieties were randomly selected proportional to county and variety bearing acreage. Initial results show an average fruit set of 945 fruit per tree and an average fruit size of 1.49 inches in diameter for these varieties. Because this is a new survey, a production forecast will be not be made for at least three years.

    Fruit counts were made from two trees per orchard, and fruit diameter measurements were taken on the right quadrant of four trees surrounding the two sampled trees.

    California Mandarin Objective Measurement Survey Results, October 1, 2020
    County Number of samples Average set per tree Average diameter (inches)
    Fresno 31 1,378 1.57
    Kern 66 1,005 1.52
    Madera 34 694 1.34
    Tulare 132 912 1.48
    Other1 8 367 1.57
    State Survey Avg. 271 945 1.49

    1Other includes Imperial, Riverside, and Ventura counties.

    This and all NASS Pacific Regional reports are available at www.nass.usda.gov/ca. For more information, contact the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • HLB Detection Triggers Quarantine Expansion in San Bernardino & Los Angeles Counties

    A quarantine expansion has been declared following the detection of the citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in five residential citrus trees located in Rancho Cucamonga. This is the first time the disease has been confirmed in Ranch Cucamonga, marking the fifth city in San Bernardino County to have had a positive detection of HLB. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and San Bernardino County to remove the HLB-infected tree and prevent the spread of HLB into neighboring areas.

    The expanded quarantine area will merge with the existing quarantines in San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties. The expanded portion is bordered on the north by Big Tree Cucamonga; on the west by Pauda Avenue in Claremont and Mount Baldy Road; on the east by Interstate 15; and on the south by Foothill Boulevard and Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County.

    The updated HLB quarantine maps for San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties are available online. Please check this link for future quarantine expansions in these counties, should they occur.

    The quarantine prohibits the movement of all plant parts or citrus nursery stock out of the quarantine area. Provisions exist to allow the movement of commercially cleaned and packed citrus fruit. If you are a grower within the new quarantine expansion area, please contact CDFA’s emergency quarantine response program at 916-654-0312 for information on these provisions.

    Fruit that is not commercially cleaned and packed, including residential citrus, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits and kumquats, must not be moved from the property on which it is grown, although it may be processed (removal of stems and leaves, and a thorough washing) and/or consumed on the premises.

    Residents are urged to take several steps to help protect citrus trees:

    • Do not move citrus plants, leaves, or foliage into or out of the quarantine area or across state or international borders. Keep it local.
    • Cooperate with agricultural officials placing traps, inspecting trees, and treating for the pest.
    • If you no longer wish to care for your citrus tree, consider removing it so it does not become a host to the pest and disease.

    CDFA staff have scheduled removal of the infected tree and are in the midst of a treatment program for citrus trees within 250-meters of the find site. By taking this action, a critical reservoir of the disease and its vectors will be removed, which is essential to protect other citrus trees on the property, neighbors’ trees and the community’s citrus from this deadly disease. CDFA, in partnership with USDA, local county agricultural commissioners and the citrus industry, continue to pursue a strategy of controlling the spread of the Asian citrus psyllids while researchers work to find a cure for HLB.

    Questions? If you are a citrus grower in San Bernardino County and have questions about this detection, please contact your grower liaison Sandra Zwaal at szwaal2@gmail.com.

  • Opportunities for US Cherries in Japan (Door Still Closed for Peaches)

    Japan’s MY 2020/21 cherry production rebounds, while unfavorable weather conditions reduce peach harvest. U.S. sweet cherry exports to Japan are expected to increase as Japan lowers tariffs under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. COVID-19 travel restrictions diversify stone fruit distribution channels, while demand remains steady. 

    Cherries:

    Crop Area

    Japan’s crop area for cherries continues a steady gradual decline due to aging farmers and a lack of successors. Since reaching its peak area harvested in marketing year (MY) 2008/09, Japan’s area harvested for sweet cherries has contracted approximately 0.4 percent a year. Based on this trend, FAS/Tokyo forecasts MY 2020/21 planted area at 4,680 hectares (ha) and MY 2020/21 harvested area at 4,300 ha. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) reported MY 2018/19 and MY 2019/20 areas harvested for sweet cherries as 4,350 ha and 4,320 ha, respectively. FAS/Tokyo estimated area planted from MAFF’s official data on planted area (published every 5 years) and harvested area (updated annually), as well as information from industry sources.

    Pursuant to the 1961 “Act on Special Measures concerning Promotion of Fruit- growing Industry” (available only in Japanese), MAFF issues a national basic plan every five years that sets the national target for the fruit tree crop, including sweet cherry, planted area for the next ten years. Based on the national basic plan, each prefecture sets its target for cherry planted area and develops a fruit promotion plan. In the last national basic plan published on April 30, 2020, MAFF lowered the national 2030 target to 4,640 ha or 1.1 percent down from the actual 2018 acreage of 4,690 ha.

    Given the recent release of the 2020 national basic plan, the latest available prefectural plans are based on the 2015 national basic plan. The 2017 basic plan of Yamagata prefecture, which produces nearly three-quarters of Japan’s sweet cherries, set its 2020 cherry acreage target at 3,100 ha, a 1.3 percent decrease from its 2014 acreage.

    The Yamagata prefectural plan also indicates a varietal shift. In 2014, 2,273 ha or 72 percent of Yamagata cherry acreage was dedicated to “Sato-nishiki,” the most common domestically produced sweet cherry variety. By 2020, Yamagata aimed to reduce the “Sato-nishiki” acreage to 2,100 ha or 67.7 percent of the total prefectural cherry acreage. On the other hand, Yamagata set a 500 ha or 16.1 percent 2020 target for “Benishuho,” a late-maturing variety with larger and hardier fruit. In 2014, “Benishuho” acreage in Yamagata represented 14 percent or 427 ha. The varietal shift indicates efforts to extend the season of the domestically produced sweet cherry.

    Production

    Nearly 90 percent of Japan’s sweet cherries are grown in three prefectures: Yamagata, Hokkaido and Yamanashi (Figure 1). Following a warm winter and increased cherry flowering across the three key prefectures, FAS/Tokyo forecasts MY 2020/21 production to reach 17,000 MT, a 5.6 percent increase over MY 2019/20. Nevertheless, due to acreage declines and higher than pollinator-optimal temperatures during the flowering phase, FAS/Tokyo estimates MY 2020/21 production 9 percent below the recent MY 2009/10 – MY 2018/19 average of 18,670 MT.

    Japan’s MY 2019/20 total production fell 11 percent to 16,100 MT from 18,100 MT in MY 2018/19 due to reduced pollinator activity in Yamagata, following high precipitation and low average temperatures during the flowering season (late April-early May). Furthermore, high precipitation during the harvest season in early to mid-June caused fruit to crack.

    MAFF reports total and commercial production levels of sweet cherries. FAS/Tokyo calculated non- commercial production as the difference between these official numbers.

    Figure 1. Japan’s Major Cherry Crowing Areas by Prefecture in MY 2019/20

    Fresh cherry production is highly labor-intensive as it is done by hand. Given the relatively short harvest season, over 80 percent of cherry pickers come from neighboring prefectures. Despite initial concerns about the impact of COVID-19 related travel restrictions on MY 2020/21 sweet cherry harvesting, the impact was limited. Japan lifted the State of Emergency, which restricted people’s movement across prefectural lines, on May 25, 2020, a month prior to the peak cherry harvest season. Moreover, to assist cherry farmers, Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) organized harvesting missions by students from agricultural colleges and hospitality industries affected by COVID-19.

    According to the 2020 national basic plan, despite projected cherry acreage reduction, Japan’s 2030 target for fresh cherry production is 20,000 MT.

    Japan’s sour cherry production is negligible.

    Consumption and Marketing

    Japan consumes over 90 percent of its sweet cherry supply fresh. Only five to ten percent goes toward processing (e.g., canning, jams). Reflecting a lower domestic supply in MY 2019/20, Japan’s cherry consumption fell to 20,251 MT, 5.3 percent below MY 2018/19 consumption of 21,384 MT. Despite COVID-19-related shifts in distribution channels and marketing, FAS/Tokyo forecasts Japan’s sweet cherry consumption will increase to 21,199 MT or by 4.7 percent in MY 2020/21, due to increased domestic production, relative to MY 2019/20.

    Fresh sweet cherries are available to consumers in the following ways: (i) retail through wholesale (30- 50 percent), (ii) fruit-picking directly by consumers (30-50 percent), (iii) e-commerce (5-15 percent), and (iv) gifts of premium cherries (5-15 percent). In light of COVID-19-related travel restrictions during the harvest season (mid-June through early July), fruit-picking directly by consumers in MY 2020/21 decreased and more cherries were distributed through retail and e-commerce. As a result, cherry market price decreased, though less than in MY 2019/20, characterized by relatively poor production (Figure 2). Despite a higher market price and restriction on in-store promotions in MY 2020/21, household consumption of fresh cherries increased as restaurants closed in response to measures to contain the pandemic. Industry sources shared that overall fresh cherry sales increased by 10-15 percent, compared to a recent five-year average (2015-2019). This uptick in retail sales offset the reduction in consumption in the fruit-picking channel.

    E-commerce is growing in popularity for cherry distribution. Although upfront marketing costs are greater for producers, direct sales may lead to greater profits and stable repeat customers. Since Japan’s initial announcement of the State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic on April 7, producers began to actively invest in distribution via e-commerce. Consumers, in turn, value a more immediate connection with producers and lower costs, resulting from fewer middlemen. 

    Premium fresh cherries are typically set aside for gifts. Japan has two gifting seasons a year: mid-June to late July and end of the year. As few domestically produced fruits are harvested in mid-June to mid- July, premium cherries are a symbolic summer gift in Japan. Typically, gift cherries are sold through advanced sales at high-end department stores between May and early June. Due to the closure of these outlets during the MY 2020/21 State of Emergency, gift sales of premium cherries struggled. Rather than release premium cherries into retail channels, cherry-producing prefectures promoted the Furusato Nouzei, hometown tax, system initially introduced in 2007. Under this system, taxpayers can make donations to local municipalities, in return for income tax and residence tax credits. Local municipalities also send local produce as “appreciation gifts” to donors. Cherry-producing prefectures, including Yamagata, invite donations by advertising premium fresh cherries as their appreciation gift.

    Trade

    Due to Japanese consumers’ strong preference for domestic produce, a reduction in domestic cherry production does not generally stimulate a stronger demand for imported cherries. Industry sources indicate that imported sweet cherries are in particular demand between late March and mid-May, when they compete with imported fruits, such as bananas and kiwis, available year-round.

    In MY 2019/20, Japan imported 4,152 MT of fresh cherries, valued at $40 million. The United States supplied 95.3 percent of Japan’s cherry imports. FAS/Tokyo forecasts Japan’s imports of sweet cherries to increase to 4,200 MT or 1 percent relative to MY 2019/20 imports due to steady consumption and a recently reduced tariff for sweet cherries (described in the Policy section below).

    Japan does not import sour cherries, and Japan’s cherry exports are negligible (approximately 1 MT).

    Policy

    The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) came into force on January 1, 2020, and established a staged tariff reduction for U.S. sweet cherry exports to Japan (JA2020-0017). Between January and April 2020, Japan’s tariff on sweet cherries went from 8.5 percent to 2.5 percent. Japan’s tariff on sweet cherries
    will be altogether eliminated on April 1, 2023.

    Japan granted market access to U.S. cherries on the condition of annual on-site audits in the United States. In light of COVID-19-related travel restrictions, MAFF officials were not able to conduct on-site audits in 2020. As a temporary measure until on-site inspections can resume, MAFF increased on-arrival phytosanitary inspections of fresh cherries by 50 percent (JA2020-0133). 

    Peaches and Nectarines:

    Crop Area

    Every year, Japan loses approximately 50 ha of peach acreage due to aging farmers and labor shortages. Despite the national basic plan’s 2030 target of 10,400 ha for peach acreage (equivalent to MY 2018/19 area planted), FAS/Tokyo forecasts MY 2020/21 area planted to fall to 10,250 ha due to demographic trends. Moreover, MY 2020/21 area harvested is estimated at 9,300 ha due to recent weather events damaging peach trees.

    In July 2018, heavy rainfall and flooding damaged Japan’s western peach-producing region, especially Okayama and Wakayama prefectures, and many of the affected trees did not produce commercial- quality peaches in MY 2019/20. Consequently, Japan’s MY 2019/20 peach planted area shrunk by 50 ha to 10,350 ha, while area harvested fell by 160 ha to 9,540 ha.

    In October 2019, typhoon Hagibis hit eastern Japan, including peach-producing Fukushima prefecture (2019 GAIN report titled “Effects of Typhoon Hagibis on Agricultural Production in Japan”). Although the typhoon occurred after harvest, many damaged peach trees had to be replanted or need a few years to recover commercial-level production. Therefore, FAS/Tokyo forecasts MY 2020/21 peach planted and harvested areas at 10,250 ha and 9,300 ha, down 100 ha and 240 ha, respectively.

    Production

    Japan’s major peach production areas are sub-divided into eastern, central, and western regions (Figure 3). The central region, represented by Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures, has the largest acreage, followed by the eastern region, represented by Fukushima and Yamagata prefectures. Although the western region, represented by Wakayama and Okayama prefectures, accounts for only 14 percent of the total MY 2019/20 planted area, western peaches have brand recognition because Japanese consumers value first fruits of the season/year and peach harvest typically begins from the west.

    Figure 3. Japan’s Major Peach Growing Areas by Prefecture in MY 2019/20 

    In MY 2019/20, Japan’s total production of peaches and nectarines fell to 107,900 MT, 4.7 percent below MY 2018/19. The MY 2019/20 total includes 106,400 MT of peaches and 1,500 MT of nectarines. Unfavorable weather conditions precipitated a reduction in MY 2019/20 production: flooding affected the western region while the ripening season in the central region suffered from temperatures and sunlight levels well below historical averages for July. As a result, many peaches did not meet prefectural standards for commercial distribution due to reduced size and sweetness. In fact, the largest peach-producing prefecture, Yamanashi, produced 22 percent less in MY 2019/20 than in MY 2018/19. On the other hand, improved weather conditions in late July/early August boosted production in the eastern region, where harvest season occurs last. Fukushima, the second largest peach-producing prefecture, increased its MY 2019/20 production by 11 percent compared to MY 2018/19. Still, higher production in the east, did not fully offset dismal production in western and central regions.

    In MY 2020/21, Japan again experienced unfavorable weather conditions for peach and nectarine production. Typically, peach-producing regions experience about 40 days of rainy season, beginning around June 10. However, MY 2020/21 rainy season lasted an additional 10 days through the end of July. Furthermore, during the rainy season, direct sunlight hours3 were reduced to 40 percent of the historical average for the same time period. Although the weather recovered in August, peach orchards in the east experienced widespread contamination with bacterial shot hole disease that thrived in trees damaged by typhoon Hagibis. As warm winter and long rainy season facilitated survival and spread of the pest, FAS/Tokyo estimates that the eastern region lost about 30 percent of its peach/nectarine production. Although the west is expected to recover from 2018 floods, FAS/Japan forecasts Japan’s total peach production to fall by 10 percent in MY 2020/21 to 96,300 MT.

    Nagano, the largest nectarine-producing prefecture accounting for over 80 percent of total production, also suffered from unfavorable weather in MY 2019/20. The total MY 2019/20 nectarine production was reduced to 1,500 MT in MY 2019/20. Due to the typhoon Hagibis damages, FAS/Tokyo forecasts total nectarine production to fall by 100 MT to 1,400 MT in MY 2020/21.

    FAS/Tokyo forecasts Japan’s total MY 2020/21 production of peaches and nectarines to reach 97,700 MT, down 9.5 percent compared to MY 2019/20.

    COVID-19 pandemic had a minimal impact on the peach industry as Japan’s State of Emergency ended well before the harvest window for fresh peaches and nectarines.

    Consumption and Marketing

    Domestically produced peaches and nectarines are primarily consumed fresh and only ten to twelve percent of products goes to processing (e.g., juice). Due to a substantial price markdown for fruits for processing, there is a limited number of growers specializing in peach/nectarine production for processing. According to several industry contacts, the price for peaches for processing is about 5 yen ($0.05) per kilogram (kg), whereas table peaches are valued at about 300-400 yen ($2.81-$3.74) per kg. In MY 2019/20, Japan’s domestic consumption of peaches and nectarines decreased by 4.9 percent to 106,306 MT due to lower production. As fruits are generally considered non-essential and alternative fruits, such as watermelons, cantaloupes and grapes, are abundant during the peach/nectarine season, lower domestic production does not usually lead to increased stone fruit imports.

    In MY 2020/21, based on poor domestic production, FAS/Japan forecasts Japan’s consumption of fresh peaches and nectarines to fall by 9.4 percent to 96,360 MT. As peaches and nectarines are primarily consumed at home, COVID-19 impacts on distribution were limited. Lower production levels reduced labor demand during harvest. Increased retail sales helped to consume some excess peaches created by hotel and restaurant closures. However, industry sources shared that peach sales are struggling due to a lack of in-store promotions during the pandemic. Higher market price due to low production has also complicated sales.

    Fruit-picking and gifting distribution channels have struggled in the COVID-19 environment. Although the Furusato Nouzei system is also popular for peaches, e-commerce is the leading alternative for peaches normally destined for gifting or fruit-picking. In addition to direct marketing done by growers, local governments have supported sales of local products through e-commerce channels. For example, Fukushima prefecture began a promotional campaign titled “Fukushima Pride” in cooperation with Japan’s three leading online stores: Amazon, Rakuten market and Yahoo shopping. The overall sales, including fresh peaches, through this promotion increased more than 20 percent compared to the same time in MY 2019/20.

    Trade

    There are no peach imports to Japan, and the United States does not have market access to Japan for peaches. The United States, the sole exporter of fresh nectarines to Japan, has market access for selected nectarine varieties with fumigation treatment. In MY 2019/20, Japan imported 186 MT of U.S. nectarines. In light of small shipping volumes and higher freight charges due to COVID-19-related flight reductions, FAS/Tokyo forecasts Japan’s MY 2020/21 imports to decrease by 14 percent to 160 MT from 186 MT in MY 2019/20.

    In line with Japan’s 2014 national policy, Japan Revitalization Strategy, to increase agricultural exports to 1 trillion yen (approximately $10 billion) by 2020, Japan has been gradually and continuously increasing fresh peach exports. Due to a higher unit price for Japanese peaches in foreign markets compared to Japan, Japan’s peach exports continued to increase even when peach production took a downturn in MY 2019/20. In MY 2019/20, Japan exported 1,780 MT of peaches, valued approximately $17 million, of which 72.2 percent went to Hong Kong and 20.4 percent to Taiwan. FAS/Tokyo forecasts export volume to decrease by 15.7 percent to 1,500 MT in MY 2020/21 due to political instability in Hong Kong and high air freight charges due to COVID-19.

    Japan’s nectarine export volume is negligible.

    Policy

    The USJTA eliminated tariff on U.S. nectarines on January 1, 2020 (JA2020-0017).

    Due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, MAFF could not carry out its annual on-site audit of U.S. nectarine orchards. Until MAFF is able to resume inspections in the United States, MAFF doubled phytosanitary inspections upon arrival of fresh nectarines (JA2020-0133). — By Tomohiro Kurai, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • US Increases Market Share of Stone Fruit Exports in Taiwan

    In 2019, U.S. peach, nectarine, and cherry exports to Taiwan increased as competitor market share declined. Taiwan’s peach and nectarine production is forecast to increase from 16,171 metric tons (MT) in 2019 to 19,000 MT in 2020 due to improved bearing. Taiwan’s robust handling of COVID-19 has led to a modest recovery in domestic consumption, which has allowed consumption to remain strong and imports to remain stable. In 2020, total Taiwan peach and nectarine imports are forecast to increase nominally to 15,000 MT and imports of cherries are forecast up at 12,000 MT.

    Read the full report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service HERE.

  • Removing Avocado Suckers with Glyphosate

    This is not good. You find an avocado tree with sun blotch or it is time to thin the orchard and you remove the offending tree. You know that if you don’t remove the sucker, you’ll end up with some rootstock growth that just gets in the way of the other trees. Avocado suckers can look like a valued tree until it’s time for harvest several years later, and then you are likely to find that it’s not the variety that you thought it was. Homeowners often find this problem several years after a freeze and the lemon tree that regrew from the freeze damage turns out to be the rootstock variety and produces some gnarly, seedy, juiceless fruit. Even without a frost, sometimes rootstocks which are selected for their vigor, can be more vigorous than the scion variety and will overgrow it. You then end up with whatever the rootstock fruit turns out to be.

    In some situations, it is legal and common to use a “cut stump” treatment to kill stumps and prevent resprouting. In these cases, glyphosate or triclopyr is sprayed, drizzled, or painted onto a freshly cut stump. Relatively high concentrations of the herbicide are applied to the cambium, which is the living tissue just under the bark. Cut stump treatments work well in many situations, including citrus orchards. This type of cut and spray treatment is commonly done to remove undesirable plants, like arundo and weedy tree species. However, in some trees, like avocado and many forest species, there can be root grafting, which are tree-to-tree root connections.

    Due to root grafting in a mature avocado orchard, it really can be one giant root system, one tree connected to all the other trees. And if a systemic herbicide is injected in one tree, the surrounding trees can be affected – they might get enough herbicide through the root graft to be injured or even killed along with the target tree. This technique has been used in Florida to remove Laurel Wilt Disease infected avocado trees which can rapidly infect surrounding trees with the killer fungus. This is a helpful technique, because it removes any doubt that all infected trees have been killed to prevent the spread to healthy trees in the orchard.

    In a healthy orchard in California, this is not a really good way to remove avocado stump sprouts. Every year reports come in of glyphosate killing good trees that surround a removed tree. Figure 3 is a recent case where the stump (circled in blue) was scored and painted with glyphosate. Within two weeks the surrounding tree were also killed. The systemic material was translocated from the cut surface by way of root grafts to the neighboring trees. And those trees are now dead, too.

    The stump (circled in blue) was scored and painted with glyphosate.

    So what to do? One thing done by those with a front-end loader or a backhoe, is to pull the stump and have an end to the sucker problem. It also reduces the possibility of chronic armillaria fungus persisting to infect trees. The problem is that it leaves a big hole to deal with which can open up a slope to erosion. If on a slope, it requires a decent sized tractor that can safely be operated on the slope without tearing up everything, including the irrigation system. And in the end, it’s expensive.

    The other approach is to just cut the tree down as low as possible without damaging the chain saw. Then as the irrigator makes inspections, just physically knock off the suckers as they come up. If walking the irrigation lines, it’s not a problem. Covering the stump and immediate area with a physical barrier such as thick, black plastic sheet (greater than 5 ml), can reduce the number of suckers. To speed degradation of the stump, the top of the cut can be scored and a salt such as urea or magnesium sulfate (both at 10 pounds per stump) can be applied. At this rate, rather than fertilize the stump, under moist conditions, this treatment facilitates the activity of wood-decaying microorganisms; it can also damage or reduce the regrowth of the suckers.

    There are also a range of registered contact herbicides that can be used to burn out the suckers. Materials, such as Scythe®, Axxe® and Suppress® are all registered for avocado sucker control. There are others. These contact herbicide work best on small tender suckers so don’t let the suckers grow more than a foot or so. For best control of suckers, apply them at the highest allowable rate with an approved adjuvant at a spray-to-wet rate. Because these products are not systemic, you’ll likely need repeat applications, as new fresh buds break and new suckers erupt.

    Using a contact spray means the grower would still need to be out in the orchard controlling the suckers. The grower still needs to be out in the orchard checking the irrigation lines. Why spray the suckers when they can just be broken off?

    Although systemic herbicide can be used effectively to control suckers or stump sprouts in some tree crops or situations where root grafting does not occur, this is not a recommended practice for avocado because of the risk of damage to nearby trees. — By Ben Faber & Brad Hanson, UC Cooperative Extension

  • CA Navel Orange Forecast Down 5%

    The initial 2020-21 Navel orange forecast is 84.0 million cartons, down 5 percent from the previous year. Of the total Navel orange forecast, 81.0 million cartons are estimated to be in the Central Valley. Cara Cara variety Navel orange production in the Central Valley is forecast at 7.0 million cartons. These forecasts are based on the results of the 2020-21 Navel Orange Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was conducted from June 15 to September 1, 2020. Estimated fruit set per tree, fruit diameter, trees per acre, bearing acreage, and oranges per box were used in the statistical models estimating production.

    This forecast includes production of conventional, organic, and specialty Navel oranges (including Cara Cara and Blood orange varieties).

    Survey data indicated a fruit set per tree of 319, unchanged from the previous year but b e l o w the five-year average of 363. The average September 1 diameter was 2.198 inches, below the five-year average of 2.218 inches. The Cara Cara orange set was 251 with a diameter of 2.232 inches.

    SURVEY SAMPLE

    A sample of 785 Navel orange groves was randomly selected proportional to county and variety bearing acreage, and 733 of the groves were utilized in this survey. Once a grove was randomly chosen and grower permission was granted, two trees were randomly selected. The Navel orange sample included conventional, organic, Cara Cara, and Blood orange groves.

    For each randomly selected tree, the trunk was measured along with all connected branches. A random number table was then used to select a branch, and then all connected branches from the randomly-selected branch were measured.

    This process was repeated until a branch was reached with no significant limbs beyond t h i s p o i n t . This randomly-selected branch, called the terminal branch, was then closely inspected to count all fruit connected to this branch, as well as all of the fruit along the path from the trunk to the terminal branch. Since each selected path has a probability of selection associated with t h e p a t h , a probability-based method was then applied to estimate a fruit count for the entire tree.

    In the last week of the survey period, fruit diameter measurements were made on the right quadrant of four trees surrounding the two trees of every third grove. These measurements were used to estimate an average fruit diameter per tree. Of the 733 utilized groves, 11 were in Madera County, 125 were in Fresno County, 436 were in Tulare County, and 161 were in Kern County.

    SURVEY HISTORY

    A Navel Orange Objective Measurement Survey has been conducted in the Central Valley every year since the 1984-85 crop year, except for the 1991-92 season due to a lack of funding. The data from the first two years were used for research purposes in developing crop-estimating models. The Cara Cara forecast was undertaken at the request of the California Citrus Advisory Committee. 

     

  • CA Citrus Mutual Commends Actions Regarding Seasonal & Perishable Products

    California Citrus Mutual commends the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) for the actions they recently announced to address the injury caused by increased imports of seasonal and perishable products. Low-priced imports have previously caused a substantial market disruption for the California citrus industry during its marketing season. We are encouraged by both the Administration’s plan and its determination to bring relief to fruit and vegetable growers who are suffering from similar import issues.

    The trade remedy steps announced include the self-initiation of Section 201 global safeguard action on certain imports, USTR’s coordination with specific sectors to monitor and investigate imports under the Section 201 provisions covering perishable agricultural products and citrus products, DOC’s coordination with effected sectors on possible self-initiated antidumping and countervailing duty actions, and the Administration’s indication that still other actions and investigations may be taken. These steps are essential safeguarding and supporting all U.S. fruit and vegetable growers harmed by this problem.

    In 2017, low-priced citrus imports from the Southern Hemisphere increased 40% over the prior year’s shipments, causing significant price declines and harm to California growers. Consistent with last week’s announcement, California Citrus Mutual will closely monitor imports in the coming California season and continue to coordinate with the U.S. Government regarding any import surges, unfair import practices, and injury to our citrus growers.

    About California Citrus Mutual (CCM)

    CCM is a voluntary, non-profit trade association representing CA citrus growers on the economic, regulatory, and political issues that impact them most.