California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Fruiting Vegetables

  • Poor Weather & COVID-19 Hurt Mexican Tomato Industry

    Poor weather conditions during harvest in Sinaloa, the top tomato producing state in Mexico, plus demand and supply chain challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in slightly lower forecasted production and trade in fresh tomatoes. However, spring/summer supplies from central Mexico are expected to meet all demand to the United States for the remainder of the marketing year. Fall/winter tomato producers experienced significant effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, due to reduced demand in both the United States and Mexico from the hotel and restaurant industries shutting down operations for a number of months in the spring and summer, corresponding directly with the harvesting season.

    Production

    Tomatoes are produced in Mexico year-round, with a fall/winter cycle and a spring/summer cycle stretching over 18 months and measured by an agricultural year (AY) from October to March (plus one year). The tomato marketing year is covered from October to September. For purposes of this report, FAS Mexico will refer to the AY in production forecasts in order to capture full tomato production in the country. A full list of Mexican tomato producing states by cycle is provided at the end of this report.

    Protected agriculture continues to become more prevalent throughout the country, particularly for operations and businesses that rely on the export market. Protected agriculture includes greenhouse, shade house and tunnel cultivation systems, and allows for year-round production through strict climatic controls. Protected agriculture systems also enhance yields, saves significant amounts of water, and reduces pesticide use.

    Tomato production for AY 2020 is forecasted at 3.33 million metric tons (MMT) according to the Agrifood and Fisheries Information System (SIAP), three percent lower than the previous agricultural year due to volatile weather in Sinaloa (fall/winter cycle), and reductions to planted area. Cold weather and heavy rains were observed throughout the winter months in Sinaloa, tightening supplies and pressuring prices up through the spring. Contacts in Sinaloa state that due to Covid-19 sanitary restrictions impacting data collection, accurate production data for the state is not yet available. The SIAP production forecast for AY 2021 is 3.47 million MMT, contingent upon favorable weather conditions. AY 2019 production is at 3.44 MMT according to SIAP data, although modifications are expected.

    Tomato planted area for AY 2021 is forecasted at 46,510 hectares (Ha) according to SIAP data three percent higher than AY 2020 and contingent upon improved weather conditions throughout the growing season. Planted area for AY 2020 is estimated at 45,102 Ha, five percent lower compared to AY 2019. This reduction can be attributed to drought damage to some fields in central states, and changes from open field to more efficient protected agriculture growing systems that bring about improve yields. Additionally, uncertainties caused by renegotiation of the U.S. -Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement (please see policy section below) caused many round and Roma producers to plant cucumbers and peppers instead. The Roma tomato is the main variety produced in Mexico, followed by round and cherry. Producer are beginning to increase cultivation of specialty tomatoes, like cherry and grape, based on increased demand from the United States.

    Sinaloa is the largest tomato producing state in Mexico, with fall/winter production only. Production is mainly through open field cultivation, but protected agriculture methods are also increasingly utilized. Sinaloa tomatoes are harvested and supply the U.S. market during the winter months, typically from late December through May, and cross at the Nogales, Arizona border port of entry.

    Tomato production in the central Mexican states of San Luis Potosi, Michoacán, Zacatecas and Jalisco have seen increases in recent years, with use of both open field and protected agriculture methods. Supplies from the central region enter the U.S. market in the summer months, after the Sinaloa export window winds down in May, and cross through Texas border ports of entry in Laredo and Pharr.

    The states of Baja California and Baja California Sur are consequential tomato for export producers, with protected agriculture systems widely used to produce Roma tomatoes, and smaller volumes of vine- ripe and specialty tomato varieties, like grape. The region supplies the U.S. west coast through the Otay Mesa, California border port of entry with an export window of May through December.

    Covid-19 Effects on Production

    Mexican tomato producers suffered significant effects due to the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in Sinaloa, where harvest season fell directly within the onset of the pandemic. With the hotel and restaurant industries in both the United States and Mexico shut down by middle of March, demand for businesses that sell to that sector fell nearly 40 percent. Additionally, many operations were forced to lay off laborers, and some employees left harvest early to return to their homes in the country’s southern states, fearful that they would not be able to return during lock down. As a result, some producers in Sinaloa donated tomato supplies to food banks, some used product for cattle feed, and others simply halted harvest.

    Consumption

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    The MY (October- September) 2020/21 consumption forecast is 1.60 MMT. MY 2019/20 consumption is estimated at 1.50 MMT due to slightly lower production during the market year and the closure of the hotel and restaurant industries for several months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Annual per capita consumption of tomato 16.8 kilograms per year. Producers prefer to export supplies for higher returns, and remaining supplies are sold on the domestic market. However, consumers are price sensitive purchasers. As protected agriculture production continues to increase, so do prices as compared to open field produced tomatoes.

    Trade

    Tomato trade to the United States is economically significant and makes up nearly 99.7 percent market share of total Mexican exports. Exports in 2019 were valued at approximately USD $2 billion. Tomatoes are by far one of the greatest beneficiaries to Mexican fruit and vegetable trade since the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1995, when exports were valued at a mere $406 million.

    Producers have been consistently improving their production technologies to produce high quality exportable supplies year-round. Export volumes are heaviest in the U.S. fall, winter and early spring months, before U.S. supplies come to market in the summer.

    The Post export forecast for MY (October-September) 2020/21 is at 1.87 MMT, two percent higher than previous MY on consistent U.S. demand and ample supplies. The Post export estimate for MY 2019/20 is at 1.80 MMT, with exports to the U.S. forecast at 1.6 MMT, contingent upon the resolution of Covid- 19 demand and supply issues observed in the spring of 2020. Mexico imports a small amount of specialty and organic tomatoes, and sometimes are packaged and re-exported. The Post import forecast for MY 2020/21 is 850 tons, the same level as MY 2019/20, with supplies almost entirely from the United States.

    Policy

    U.S. -Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement

    Mexican fresh tomato trade to the U.S. has been managed and implemented by terms of the U.S. – Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreements since 1996, following an agreement between the two countries to cease a tomato anti-dumping case requested by the Florida Tomato Exchange. The original agreement had been reviewed and renewed every five years since coming into force. However, on November 14, 2018 the Florida Tomato Exchange requested that the U.S. Commerce Department terminate the 2013 Suspension Agreement. On May 7, 2019, the Suspension Agreement was terminated, the antidumping (AD) investigation from 1996 was resumed, and duties were placed on Mexican tomato exports to the United States.

    On September 19, 2019, Commerce and the Mexican tomato growers signed another agreement suspending the ongoing AD investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The agreement set reference prices for round, Roma, vine, and specialty tomatoes ranging from $0.31 to $0.826 per pound. It also created an inspection mechanism for all round, Roma, and grape tomatoes in bulk (packages weighing more than two pounds), which began on April 4, 2020, and is carried out by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service

    On October 14, the Florida Tomato Exchange filed a request for continuation of the AD investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico despite a signed suspension agreement. U.S. trade law permits domestic producers to request a continuation of investigations. On October 21, Commerce issued its final affirmative determinations, with dumping rates range from 3.91 percent to 30.48 percent.

    On November 22, 2019 the International Trade Commission (ITC) made its final injury determination, determining that “a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.” Although the affirmative final injury determination was found, the 2019 suspension agreement remains in force.

    AMS Marketing Order for Round Tomatoes

    Since 1955, AMS has implemented a marketing order for fresh round tomatoes produced in Florida. Amended in 1986, the order regulates the quality and package requirements and provides authority for research and promotion of fresh round tomatoes grown in Florida. Per section 8e of the order, imported tomatoes must meet the same or comparable minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements as specified in the order. As a result, imported tomatoes from Mexico are subject to border inspection for the above quality requirements from October 10 through June 15.

    Tariffs

    Mexico typically imports all tomatoes from the United States. Mexico’s most favored nation (MFN) applied tariff rate for tomato (HTS 0702) imports is 10 percent. Countries with tariff-free access to Mexico include the United States, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Bolivia, the European Union, and Japan. There is an applied tariff rate of 28 percent for tomatoes from Colombia. Tomatoes are classified under tariff codes 0702.0001 and 0702.0099.

    Prices

    Tight supplies Roma supplies out of Sinaloa and supply chain complications as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in high prices for both round and Roma prices on the domestic market. — By Rhiannon Elms, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Watermelon Master Classes to Educate, Inform & Inspire

    The first of its kind, the Watermelon Virtual Master Classes were arguably one of the largest pivots of the Spring-Summer season for the communications program of the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB). The challenge was to move an NYC-based freelance summertime media event to online: a virtual version for the at-home world of media and influencers to educate, inform and inspire watermelon content and coverage.

    The reinvention of the media event turned into three separate virtual events with three different topics, three different presenters with three sets of recipe ideas, sending out three different curated boxes of watermelon goodies for the media to enjoy and utilize for their Watermelon Master Classes. The strategies were tri-fold:

    • Lean on “Back to Basics” materials to educate at-home cooks on easy ways to get creative with watermelon
    • Leverage “Use the Whole Watermelon” messaging to encourage use of the rind and juice
    • Develop strong relationships with members of the media and influence their watermelon content for months to come

    NWPB spent weeks pitching media contacts from major publications, in a time when much of the country was in a “shelter in place” order, to offer an at-home, free event to create content and excitement about the sweet summer staple. Additionally NWPB provided education focused on a year-round message to extend the seasonal reach and amplify watermelon’s appeal.

    “We confirmed attendees across the country, rather than have to only host those based in the NYC-area. We sent out custom curated watermelon boxes with a mix of items related to each class and related to our brand: a logoed chef’s apron and a new kitchen knife, a cocktail shaker and food pun spatula, etc. The boxes generated excitement and enthusiasm for the classes, and each one was well attended… with the cameras turned ON!” said Stephanie Barlow, senior director of communications.

    Further, the timing of the classes gave many attendees the opportunity to create their own watermelon content this summer, in time for National Watermelon Day and beyond. Several attendees posted on their personal social pages, where media turn into influencers and endorse watermelon recipes, usage ideas and health benefits. In total, NWPB hosted 60 food editors, writers and media dietitians. Their enthusiasm and delight over the events ensures earned media attention for watermelon to come for months.

    “To date, we have nearly 40 social media posts and 15 articles covering these events, which wasn’t even one of the main strategies but it is additional earned content on their personal influencer networks. We look forward to building long lasting partnerships with writers and their publications in the coming year,” said Barlow.

    These were the Watermelon Master Classes:

    ·       Watermelon Wellness with Pam Smith, RDN featuring Salted Watermelon Woju, Watermelon Overnight Oats, Watermelon Poke Salad and a Watermelon Yogurt Smoothie

    ·       The Ultimate Watermelon Workshop with cookbook authors Mark Scarbrough and Bruce Weinstein, creating Thai-inspired Watermelon Rind Salad, Curried Wheatberry Watermelon Salad and Watermelon, and Prosciutto and Mozzarella Skewers

    ·       Summer Sips Watermelon Cocktails with Jordan Catapano from This Girls Walks into a Bar, mixing a Watermelon Rose Sangria, Watermelon Gimlet and a Summer into Fall Cocktail

    Each of the classes incorporated watermelon key messages of health, value, versatility and year-round availability, but also gave attendees the opportunities to ask questions to the hosts or the watermelon experts from NWPB.

    “The engaging questions were rampant throughout all the classes, asking everything from watermelon storage techniques to flavor pairings, or alternative ingredients when you couldn’t find elderflower liqueur or red wheat berries, which effectively made these events much richer than a plain recipe demonstration,” Barlow continued.

    About National Watermelon Promotion Board

    The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 800 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.

    Watermelon packs a nutritious punch, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamin C (25%), a source of Vitamins A ( 8%) and B6 (8%), and a delicious way to stay hydrated (92% water), with only 80 calories. For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.

  • Foodservice Campaigns Find New Ways to Promote Watermelons

    Watermelon continues to find its place on menus throughout the country despite the rapidly changing foodservice landscape. Partnering with both quick service and full service national chains in the spring and summer months, the National Watermelon Promotion Board (Board) focused on takeaway- and delivery-friendly options to not only include watermelon on the menu, but keep it top of mind with their customers.

    Juice and smoothies played a prominent role in all of these promotions, allowing operators to experiment with watermelon’s flavor profile, while understanding that away from home, consumers most enjoy watermelon raw, as a snack or with lunch.

    The Board worked with the following foodservice outlets:

    • Another Broken Egg – Chain wide usage in 74 outlets included a fruit side and

      Watermelon Cucumber Cooler. This year, the promotion started earlier in the year (March 17) and, for the first time, the chain tested a savory application, Tacos Verano with Watermelon Salsa.

    • First Watch – Running June 1 through the end of August in 380 locations, the Watermelon Wake Up juice scored a 96/100 for frequency of ordering desire on Datassentials SCORES, a monthly report that tracks and ranks new menu items tested with consumers. Promotions included in-store chalkboards, e-blast, blog post and social.

    • Nektar – Expanded social media promotional elements including Instagram Live and Stories with Nektar founder Alexis Schulze and Board beverage consultant Tony Pereyra, amplified on Board channels. Offerings in 165 units included a smoothie and juice, running from June 15 until Labor Day weekend.

    • Robeks – Custom graphics on Instagram and Facebook promoting the Wailea Watermelon Smoothie, a customer favorite, in 84 locations.

      “Adjusting to operators’ and consumers’ needs was a top priority this year,” said Megan McKenna, Senior Director of Marketing and Foodservice. “Additionally, leveraging

    existing relationships with past partners has made executing programming straightforward and incredibly successful.”

    “You know you have a hit when guests ask for more watermelon salsa on an already generous portion or my favorite, when a guests asked how much for a container to take home because they know a dozen other things that the bright, sweet, spicy, crunchy, salty goodness would go with!” said Jason Knoll, Vice President of Culinary, Another Broken Egg of America Franchising, LLC.

    Looking forward to fall/winter programming, the Board will continue to monitor foodservice needs and consumer trends. For more information about the Foodservice program including how NWPB can support watermelon usage in the foodservice sector, visit watermelon.org/foodservice or contact Megan McKenna at mmckenna@watermelon.org.

    About National Watermelon Promotion Board

    The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 800 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.

    Watermelon packs a nutritious punch, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamin C (25%), a source of Vitamin B6 (8%), and a delicious way to stay hydrated (92% water), with only 80 calories. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was an estimated 15.6 pounds in 2019. Watermelon consumption in the United States was approximately 5.1 billion pounds in 2019. The United States exported an additional 321.2 million pounds of watermelon. For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.

  • Broomrape: a Parasitic Weed in CA Processing Tomato

    Figure 1: Branched broomrape infestation in a processing tomato in California.

    Branched broomrape (Phelipanche ramosa), a weedy parasitic plant that can cause devastating damage to many economically important wide range of broadleaf crops including tomato, cabbage, potato, eggplant, carrot, pepper, beans, celery, peanut and sunflower has recently re-emerged in fields in Central Valley counties in California. This weed utilizes a modified root, called haustorium, to fuse into a host plant root and extract nutrients and water which can greatly reduce productivity or even kill the host depending on the level of infestation, susceptibility of the host, and environmental conditions. Tomato is highly susceptible to branched broomrape. In the United States, California accounted for over 90% of the 12 million tons of tomatoes grown in 2018. Studies in Israel showed that at extreme infestation levels broomrape can cause processing tomato yield losses as high as 70%. The annual losses in tomato due to broomrapes in Israel and Turkey are estimated at $5 and $200 million, respectively. Up to 80% crop loss due to branched broomrape has been reported in tomato in Chile which is highly concerning given the similarity in production systems and broomrape species with California.

     
    Figure 2: A close view of a flowering branched broomrape

    Branched broomrape is currently classified in California as an “A” pest, that is, “an organism of known economic importance subject to California State enforced action involving: eradication, quarantine regulation, containment, rejection, or other holding action”. As a potentially severe economic pest and as a California “A-list” pest, establishment and spread of a branched broomrape in California tomato production regions could cause severe consequences for individual growers and for the entire tomato industry. Currently, discovery of broomrape in a commercial tomato field leads to a hold order and crop destruction without harvest. In addition to branched broomrape, several fields have been reported with infestations of Egyptian broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca), a Q-listed species (that is, having a temporary “A” classification pending determination of permanent rating by California State), causing similar industry and grower concerns.

     
    Figure 3: Hundreds of tiny branched broomrape seeds (0.2 – 0.4 mm) and the single capsule from which the seeds were sourced.

    In the United States, branched broomrape was first reported in 1890, and since then, over 150 occurrences of branched broomrape have been documented. In recent times, reports of branched broomrape in the United States have been increasing; from 7 occurrences in 2015 to 65 in 2019. Branched broomrape has been documented in Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and California. In California, the first reported case of branched broomrape was in Butte County (1903) and later in Alameda County (1929). Other counties in California with reported branched broomrape detections include Colusa, Sacramento, San Benito, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, Ventura and Yolo.

    Figure 4: Distribution of branched broomrape in California as of November 10, 2019. Data source: Calflora and GBIF 2019

    A severe infestation of branched broomrape in the Sacramento Valley in 1959 prompted an intervention that involved soil fumigation with methyl bromide to target the soil seedbank; this was as an industry-led effort funded through a legislative marketing order program. Branched broomrape became a less significant problem after that effort which involved research, intensive field surveys, and fumigation of infested fields and equipment from 1973 to 1982 that cost over $1.5 million. However, this parasitic weed has recently been detected in several tomato fields in Yolo, Solano (Egyptian broomrape) and San Joaquin Counties. The cause of the re-emergence of the problem remains unclear, although re-introduction or recurrence from long-dormant seed in the soil and subsequent spread have been speculated.

    Figure 5: A branched broomrape plant attached to a volunteer tomato root in a processing tomato field in mid-June.

    The re-emergence of branched broomrape in California is of concern to the processing tomato industry as: 1) the experience in other regions of the world has demonstrated the extreme vulnerability of tomato to branched broomrape parasitism, 2) broomrapes seem likely to rapidly establish and spread in California because of the similarity to the species’ native climate, (3) repeated cultivation of processing tomato in the same fields, (4) the cultivation of a wide range of hosts (e.g. carrot, sunflower, safflower) in California, (5) intensive agricultural practices that could rapidly spread broomrape seeds to uninfested fields, (6) the production of copious number of minute seeds could easily disperse via machinery and irrigation water in the highly mechanized and irrigated cropping systems of California, (7) seed longevity (> 20 years) allows the parasite to persist even in the absence of any hosts, and (8) the major part of the parasite’s lifespan occur underground, making it inaccessible to conventional means of weed control such as cultivation and contact herbicides, (9) some of the important management tools (e.g. herbicides known to be effective in controlling broomrapes) are not yet registered or tested in California, (10) regulatory and environmental challenges with soil fumigation practices.

    Research efforts are currently being made to further understand, and develop detection and control approaches for branched broomrape in tomatoes and other specialty crops in California. For more information about branched broomrape in California, please see:

    http://tomatonet.org/branchedbroomrape

    http://tomatonet.org/img/uploadedFiles/Broomrape/CTRI_2019_NEWSLETTER.pdf

    https://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/broomrape-eradication-high-priority-uc-researchers

    – Article By O. Adewale Osipitan, Brad Hanson, Matthew Fatino & Mohsen Mesgaran (UC Cooperative Extension)

  • Watermelon Board Launches 2020 Recipe & Carving Challenge

    National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) kicked off its annual consumer recipe contest – but this time with a twist. Unlike in year’s past where consumers were asked to create and submit an original watermelon-focused recipe, in 2020 NWPB tasks fans with putting their own unique spin on existing recipes and carvings found on the newly relaunched watermelon.org website. The contest launched Memorial Day and closes August 21st.

    After visitors chose which recipe or carving they will personalize, home chefs can customize it by swapping out up to five ingredients, changing the way the dish is served or adding something new to the dish. Watermelon fans can then enter the contest two ways: by posting their recipe/carving image to their public profile on Instagram using #WatermelonRecipeContest or at watermelon.org.

    “Not only will this contest be more approachable to consumers who may have been intimidated to create a recipe, but they will have all summer long to experiment with the recipes and carvings from the Watermelon.org website and show us how they add their own unique flair,” says Stephanie Barlow. “Additionally, this time period, more than any other, is all about finding new stay-at-home activities for consumers and continuing to source the best products in health, value and versatility.”

    To help launch the contest on Instagram and gain exposure and momentum for the hashtag #WatermelonRecipeContest, NWPB recruited six influencer partners, all of whom have chosen their own recipe or carving to recreate and inspire their followers. Each partner is scheduled to post images and versatility messaging at different times throughout the summer in order to maintain a steady cadence of contest visibility.

    In addition to pushing fans to master watermelon carving techniques and recipes, the contest helps to drive traffic to the new website and capture user-generated content. Other benefits include:

    • Increase page views and engage with on-site with comments
    • Populates NWPB’s database of assets and editorial content with captured UGC and can use for promotion on owned channels
    • Crowd-sources recipe ranking by interest in entries, as well as tweaks for improvements
    • Incentivizes Instagram posts and tags during peak watermelon visibility showcasing versatility for the people, by the people
    •  Real-time feedback on watermelon techniques and recipe steps

    Prizes will be awarded in three categories including Food, Beverage and Carving. All winners will receive a watermelon prize pack of goodies, plus first place winners will receive a $250 gift card, second place a $100 gift card and third place a $50 gift card. Judging criteria will be a mix of the recipe or carving’s unique spin, visual presentation and appearance.

    For more information about the Recipe & Carving Challenge, including official contest rules and to submit an entry, visit watermelon.org/recipe-challenge prior to August 21, 2020.

    About National Watermelon Promotion Board
    The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 800 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.

    Watermelon packs a nutritious punch, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamin C (25%), a source of Vitamins A (8%) and B6 (8%), and a delicious way to stay hydrated (92% water), with only 80 calories. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was an estimated 15.6 pounds in 2019. Watermelon consumption in the United States was approximately 5.1 billion pounds in 2019. The United States exported an additional 321.2 million pounds of watermelon. For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.

  • Watermelon Board Pivots Nutrition Education Strategy to Digital Model

    The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) is realigning resources to adapt to a new climate while focusing on summer sales. Unlike years past when summer months meant in-person events, the socially-distanced approach adjusts marketing and promotional efforts to continue to position watermelon as the go-to choice for kids and families. NWPB has been partnered with the world’s only rock & roll nutrition show Jump with Jill for over eight years, with a national live tour partnership as the leading line item. With stay-at-home orders in place, Jump with Jill and NWPB are teaming up to bring consumers a digital version of the program called the Jump with Jill Digital Tour with unplugged songs, dances, workouts, activities, and tutorials.

    “Jump with Jill is our longtime partner for kids content and in-school outreach and their primary delivery mechanism was through a powerful live musical show,” says Stephanie Barlow, Senior Director of Communications. They have realigned so that songs about eating fruit like Nature’s Candy and The Sweet Beat can still reach kids even when they are distance learning.”

    Just as the watermelon domestic growing season hits its peak, these free resources and tools serve an important need useful while families are at home. Parents are craving content that can hold their kids’ attention while they work from home and teachers need summer study materials they can use to prevent the summer slide, or the slide backwards that many children make in reading and math skills over the summer.

    “From our homes to families everywhere, we are thrilled to be able to perform and teach,” says Jump with Jill creator, Jill Jayne, who brings her credentials as a Registered Dietitian and singer into everything she touches. “When they announced school closures, we were forced to accept that a screen would be a mandatory feature in our relationship with our audience. So we wanted to use it to communicate to kids in a powerful way letting them know that – we are still here, we are still singing, and we still love you.”

    For more information and to explore the resources available from NWPB and Jump with Jill, check out Facebook, YouTube, visit Watermelon.org or JumpwithJill.com.      

    About National Watermelon Promotion Board

    The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 800 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.

    Watermelon packs a nutritious punch, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamin C (25%), a source of Vitamin A(8%) and B6 (8%), and a delicious way to stay hydrated (92% water), with only 80 calories. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was an estimated 15.6 pounds in 2019. Watermelon consumption in the United States was approximately 5.1 billion pounds in 2019. The United States exported an additional 321.2 million pounds of watermelon.

    About Jump with Jill

    As a leader in interactive educational experiences since 2008, the music-based nutrition education program Jump with Jill makes healthy rock. The world’s only rock & roll nutrition show use singable anthems to transform nutrition education into a school wide live concert. The supporting digital platform of songs, dances, workouts, activities, and tutorials brings the messages into the classroom and home. Created by a singing Registered Dietitian & her band of extraordinary educators, Jump with Jill gets students moving and learning about health in a way they will never forget. The Emmy-nominated nutrition education program

    has been performed over 3,800 times in six countries for over 1.2 million kids.

  • 12 Million Ton Processing Tomato Crop Anticipated in California

    As of May 15, California’s tomato processors reported they have or will have contracts for 12.0 million tons of processing tomatoes for 2020. This production estimate is unchanged from the January intentions forecast and 7.8 percent above the final 2019 contracted production total. The May contracted acreage of 235,000 is also unchanged from the January intentions forecast and 1,000 acres above last year’s final contracted acreage.

    Fresno County remains the top California County in contracted planted acreage for 2020 with 72,300 acres. Yolo, Merced, Kings and San Joaquin make up the remaining top five counties, accounting for 75 percent of the 2020 total contracted planted acreage for California.

    Dry winter weather caused some concern for water availability. Despite a few rain storms in March and April, planting was on schedule and the warm temperatures through spring helped with early crop development. An unusual heat wave at the end of May required more irrigation than normal for this time of year. There were no reports of disease or pest issues.

    This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Producers, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. 

  • USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.

    “America’s farming community is facing an unprecedented situation as our nation tackles the coronavirus. President Trump has authorized USDA to ensure our patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers are supported and we are moving quickly to open applications to get payments out the door and into the pockets of farmers,” said Secretary Perdue. “These payments will help keep farmers afloat while market demand returns as our nation reopens and recovers. America’s farmers are resilient and will get through this challenge just like they always do with faith, hard work, and determination.”

    Beginning May 26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), will be accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses.

    Background:

    CFAP provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.

    Farmers and ranchers will receive direct support, drawn from two possible funding sources. The first source of funding is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act to compensate farmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020, and mid-April 2020 and provides support for specialty crops for product that had been shipped from the farm between the same time period but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channels. The second funding source uses the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to on-going market disruptions.

    Non-Specialty Crops and Wool

    Non-specialty crops eligible for CFAP payments include malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red spring wheat. Wool is also eligible. Producers will be paid based on inventory subject to price risk held as of January 15, 2020. A payment will be made based 50 percent of a producer’s 2019 total production or the 2019 inventory as of January 15, 2020, whichever is smaller, multiplied by the commodity’s applicable payment rates.

    Livestock

    Livestock eligible for CFAP include cattle, lambs, yearlings and hogs. The total payment will be calculated using the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020, multiplied by the payment rates per head, and the highest inventory number of livestock between April 16 and May 14, 2020, multiplied by the payment rate per head.

    Dairy

    For dairy, the total payment will be calculated based on a producer’s certification of milk production for the first quarter of calendar year 2020 multiplied by a national price decline during the same quarter. The second part of the payment is based a national adjustment to each producer’s production in the first quarter.

    Specialty Crops

    For eligible specialty crops, the total payment will be based on the volume of production sold between January 15 and April 15, 2020; the volume of production shipped, but unpaid; and the number of acres for which harvested production did not leave the farm or mature product destroyed or not harvested during that same time period, and which have not and will not be sold. Specialty crops include, but are not limited to, almonds, beans, broccoli, sweet corn, lemons, iceberg lettuce, spinach, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. A full list of eligible crops can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. Additional crops may be deemed eligible at a later date.

    Eligibility

    There is a payment limitation of $250,000 per person or entity for all commodities combined. Applicants who are corporations, limited liability companies or limited partnerships may qualify for additional payment limits where members actively provide personal labor or personal management for the farming operation. Producers will also have to certify they meet the Adjusted Gross Income limitation of $900,000 unless at least 75 percent or more of their income is derived from farming, ranching or forestry-related activities. Producers must also be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions.

    Applying for Assistance

    Producers can apply for assistance beginning on May 26, 2020. Additional information and application forms can be found at farmers.gov/cfap. Producers of all eligible commodities will apply through their local FSA office. Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested. FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed. Applications will be accepted through August 28, 2020.

    Payment Structure

    To ensure the availability of funding throughout the application period, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment upon approval of the application. The remaining portion of the payment, not to exceed the payment limit, will be paid at a later date as funds remain available.

    USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

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