Processing tomato growers gathered in Modesto once again for the California Tomato Growers Association (CTGA) Annual Meeting. It was a great opportunity for the industry to get together between seasons and discuss current needs and challenges of the industry moving forward. Watch this brief interview with CTGA President Mike Montna as he shares an economic outlook for the California processing tomato industry. Read more about the State of the Industry in the Vegetables West Magazine.
Category: Industry News
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Hail, Mold & Fusarium: Key Issues from the 2019 CA Tomato Crop
As processing tomato growers in California begin their 2020 season, watch this brief interview with Bruce Rominger, Chairman of the California Tomato Growers Association as he shares some insights from the past season and what growers can expect this year. Read more about it in Vegetables West Magazine.
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Flower Losses Due to Shrinking Habitats and Climate Change Hurt Prime Pollinators
Without enough sugar in their diets, bumblebee queens can experience difficulty reproducing and shorter lifespans. Hollis Woodard, assistant professor of entomology at UCR, has conducted multiple studies showing how loss of plant availability negatively affects the prolific pollinators. Previous research indicates a queen’s diet can impact how quickly her brood develops, or whether she’s able to live through hibernation.
In a study published recently, Woodard and her team demonstrate that without adequate sugar, the queen’s fat body, which functions like a human liver, does not correctly produce enzymes required for healthy metabolism and detoxification from pesticides.
“The fitness consequences of not producing enough of these enzymes, P450s, could ultimately be lethal, preventing reproduction or shortening lifespans,” Woodard said. “If you don’t outright kill a queen, but she can’t lay eggs, from a population standpoint you might as well have killed her.”
Woodard’s team wanted to focus its research on bumblebee queens because they undergo an event called diapause, which is like hibernation. Queens gather an abundance of nutrients just before diapause, as it is likely one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
A queen’s ability to survive this period is not guaranteed without adequate nutrition. However, the team also wanted to know about the sublethal effects. “We wanted to ask if other signs of distress might be detectable in advance, and whether there are molecular signs queens might not make it through diapause,” Woodard said.
The research team collected queen bumblebees of varying ages and fed them one of four diets ranging from no sugar to extremely concentrated sugar. They found queens in the oldest age group, roughly 12 days old, who were fed the most sugar, began to exhibit gene expression patterns consistent with the beginning of diapause. This suggests queens may have an internal mechanism to detect the amount of stored sugar in their bodies, Woodard said. By extension, it means there may be a way to detect in advance when queens do not have enough sugar to survive diapause, or for their fat bodies to produce enough enzymes to protect them from damaging pesticides.
This research underscores the importance of bumblebee food resources, which have been dwindling in recent years due to habitat loss. “There are studies showing gaps in floral availability late in the season before diapause, when queens most need food,” Woodard said.
In addition to habitat loss reducing bumblebees’ preferred plants, climate change may also be taking a toll. As winters become warmer, queens may emerge earlier from diapause in winter when fewer flowers are available to them. Their physiology becomes uncoupled from the seasons, making it less likely that they survive, or that their nests will be successful.
Many bumblebee species are declining, which could eventually have consequences for the human diet. Bumblebees, unlike honeybees, are native to the U.S. and perform a type of pollination essential for some of humans’ favorite foods, such as tomatoes, blueberries, potatoes and almonds.
Therefore, Woodard believes every effort must be made to ensure bumblebees, especially queens, have enough flowers to feed on. “It’s important for everyone from land managers to people with gardens to plant things bumblebees can feed on,” she said. — By Jules Bernstein, University of California, Riverside
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New Potato Varieties Have Lower Levels of Probable Carcinogen
Mary Ellen Camire has some good news about french fries. Fries made with the new potato varieties AF4296‐3 and Easton have much lower levels of a probable carcinogen than those made with the popular Russet Burbank variety, says the University of Maine professor of food science and human nutrition.
Acrylamide is a probable carcinogen in fried potatoes; during the frying process the chemical forms from sugars and an amino acid that are naturally in potatoes.
But for those envisioning the safer-to-eat, golden brown, crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside fries with a sprinkle of sea salt and a splash of vinegar, hold that thought.
The new spud varieties don’t turn golden brown when they’re fried. They turn whitish.
Camire says they still have the crispy texture, familiar flavor and smell of freshly cooked french fries.
Forty-seven tater taste-testers testified to that — rating the aroma, taste and texture of fries made with AF4296‐3 and Easton potato varieties similar to Russet Burbank.
But they rated the whitish color of the new varieties significantly lower.
Camire says an education or promotion campaign is likely needed to let the public know about the merits of the less-than-golden fry.
“Acrylamide is found in many foods that are baked, roasted or fried, but since frying is the most popular method for cooking potatoes, we wanted consumers to have a safer alternative developed by traditional breeding practices,” she says. — University of Maine
“It took years to convince consumers to switch from whole milk to low-fat or skim milk; hopefully changing consumer acceptance of these fries will not take as long.”
Camire conducted the pilot study with colleagues Aaron Johnson, a former UMaine graduate student and now a senior sensory scientist at ConAgra Brands, and Gregory Porter, who heads the UMaine potato breeding and variety development program. Their goal was to reduce the potential development of acrylamide in fried potatoes.
During the study, the scientists also learned that the amount of fertilizer applied to the potatoes had little effect on people’s fondness for the fries.
The Journal of Food Science published the team’s findings, “Low‐Acrylamide French Fry Acceptance: A Pilot Study,” in December 2019. The journal is published by the Institute of Food Technologists; Camire served as the institute’s 75th president in 2014–15.
The study was conducted as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture award of $7.8 million to a consortium that included the University of Wisconsin, UMaine, and other universities, federal laboratories and potato processors.
Camire says the team now wants to examine how a national sample of consumers accept these new potato varieties. “French fries, like any fried food, should be consumed in moderation,” she says. “Our goal is to supply consumers with a satisfying fry that is lower in acrylamide.”
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Flower Losses Due to Shrinking Habitats and Climate Change Hurt Prime Pollinators
Without enough sugar in their diets, bumblebee queens can experience difficulty reproducing and shorter lifespans. Hollis Woodard, assistant professor of entomology at UCR, has conducted multiple studies showing how loss of plant availability negatively affects the prolific pollinators. Previous research indicates a queen’s diet can impact how quickly her brood develops, or whether she’s able to live through hibernation.
In a study published recently, Woodard and her team demonstrate that without adequate sugar, the queen’s fat body, which functions like a human liver, does not correctly produce enzymes required for healthy metabolism and detoxification from pesticides.
“The fitness consequences of not producing enough of these enzymes, P450s, could ultimately be lethal, preventing reproduction or shortening lifespans,” Woodard said. “If you don’t outright kill a queen, but she can’t lay eggs, from a population standpoint you might as well have killed her.”
Woodard’s team wanted to focus its research on bumblebee queens because they undergo an event called diapause, which is like hibernation. Queens gather an abundance of nutrients just before diapause, as it is likely one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
A queen’s ability to survive this period is not guaranteed without adequate nutrition. However, the team also wanted to know about the sublethal effects. “We wanted to ask if other signs of distress might be detectable in advance, and whether there are molecular signs queens might not make it through diapause,” Woodard said.
The research team collected queen bumblebees of varying ages and fed them one of four diets ranging from no sugar to extremely concentrated sugar. They found queens in the oldest age group, roughly 12 days old, who were fed the most sugar, began to exhibit gene expression patterns consistent with the beginning of diapause. This suggests queens may have an internal mechanism to detect the amount of stored sugar in their bodies, Woodard said. By extension, it means there may be a way to detect in advance when queens do not have enough sugar to survive diapause, or for their fat bodies to produce enough enzymes to protect them from damaging pesticides.
This research underscores the importance of bumblebee food resources, which have been dwindling in recent years due to habitat loss. “There are studies showing gaps in floral availability late in the season before diapause, when queens most need food,” Woodard said.
In addition to habitat loss reducing bumblebees’ preferred plants, climate change may also be taking a toll. As winters become warmer, queens may emerge earlier from diapause in winter when fewer flowers are available to them. Their physiology becomes uncoupled from the seasons, making it less likely that they survive, or that their nests will be successful.
Many bumblebee species are declining, which could eventually have consequences for the human diet. Bumblebees, unlike honeybees, are native to the U.S. and perform a type of pollination essential for some of humans’ favorite foods, such as tomatoes, blueberries, potatoes and almonds.
Therefore, Woodard believes every effort must be made to ensure bumblebees, especially queens, have enough flowers to feed on. “It’s important for everyone from land managers to people with gardens to plant things bumblebees can feed on,” she said. — By Jules Bernstein, University of California, Riverside
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California Agricultural Employers, Workers Approach Smoke Concerns Differently
In 2018, California wildfires burned more than 1.8 million acres and caused smoke to drift hundreds of miles. As the frequency and intensity of wildfires increases with climate change, California agricultural workers are at greater risk of smoke exposure as they often have no option but to work outdoors.
A new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis, finds that while wildfires and smoke exposure are recognized by farmworkers and employers as a growing threat and safety concern, the means to address these concerns differs between the two groups.
“What stood out in this study is the substantial disparities between agricultural employers and farmworkers,” said Heather Riden with the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at UC Davis.
Riden, who led the research in partnership with the California Institute for Rural Studies, said that while growers and employers expressed concern about poor air quality at the time of the study in 2018, many had no clear plans or protocols for measuring air quality or managing workers in such conditions. While the public is advised to stay indoors due to poor air quality during a wildfire, agricultural work often continues.
The study also found that when farmworkers were offered protective masks, many found them difficult to use while working due to heat-related discomfort and chafing. Others believed wearing two bandanas over mouth and nose would provide just as much protection.
Farmworkers’ experience is compounded by economic need.
“Many farmworkers will continue working, even in unsafe conditions, to support their families. They don’t have many other options,” said Riden.
New regulations
Last year, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, enacted an emergency regulation requiring employers to take measures to protect workers from wildfire smoke when the Air Quality Index reaches 151 or greater, which is considered unhealthy. Riden said as CAL/OSHA begins to craft permanent regulations, she hopes it takes the study’s findings into consideration.
“This highlights the need for better awareness for both agricultural employers and farmworkers about the health risks associated with wildfire smoke,” said Riden. “Employers also need training materials and concrete steps they can take to protect workers.”
To assist agricultural employers with meeting the requirements outlined in the newly adopted regulation, the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety developed training materials and an employer checklist.
The study was based on interviews and focus groups with California agricultural employers and workers in the Salinas, San Joaquin and Imperial valleys. Support for the study came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health –By Amy Quinton, UC Davis
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CA Tomato Processors Expect 12 Million Tons in 2020
The USDA-NASS Pacific Regional Office surveyed California’s tomato processors for their intended contract acreage and tonnage for the upcoming 2020 season. The data reported by processors was either tonnage with derived acreage, or acreage with derived tonnage.As of January, California’s tomato processors reported they have, or will have, contracts for 12.0 million tons in 2020, which is an increase of 4.3 percent compared to what was reported under contract in the August 2019 California processing Tomato Report. Processors estimate that the contracted production for 2020 will come from 235,000 acres, generating an average yield of 51.1 tons per acre. The contracted planted acreage forecast is unchanged from the 2019 acreage reported under contract in August.This early processing tomato estimate is funded by the California League of Food Processors, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
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USDA Citrus Annual Report – Costa Rican Production Increases
Costa Rica’s orange production reached 295,000 MT in MY2018/2019 and is forecast to increase to 310,000 MT in MY2019/2020. The industry has been able to avoid sharp fluctuations in production during the last couple of years. Area planted is not expected to change from the approximately 21,000 hectares currently planted, although the larger producers renovate older plantations every year. The United States is Costa Rica’s main destination for its orange juice (purchasing 67 percent of its total exports in 2018), followed by the European Union (mainly the Netherlands), and China. Costa Rican orange juice enters the United States duty free under the U.S.-CAFTA–DR trade agreement.
Costa Rica’s orange production is concentrated in the northern part of the Alajuela province, around Los Chiles, Guatuso and Upala, and in the northern part of Guanacaste, near the border with Nicaragua in an area known as Santa Cecilia. Two companies, TicoFrut and Del Oro, control most of the production and processing of oranges in the country. TicoFrut is the largest company in the sector. TicoFrut’s plantations are located primarily in the province of Alajuela near the border with Nicaragua, and in Nicaragua; and Del Oro’s in the province of Guanacaste, near the border with Nicaragua. Oranges are also grown in other regions of the country including Acosta, near the Central Valley, and Nandayure in Guanacaste. However, oranges from those areas are mostly sold as fresh fruit in the local market. Besides the two companies mentioned, there are some medium and small size independent producers. The smaller independent producers tend to enter or exit the activity in response to short term price fluctuations not only of oranges but of other crops such as pineapples or coffee. The larger operations have been stable and plan their activities with a longer term horizon. The harvest takes place mainly from January to May, with peak production reached in March and April. The majority of the oranges produced in Costa Rica are processed for juice concentrate for the export market. A relatively small volume of fresh fruit is sold for local consumption, and the processing plants also sell small volumes of juice to local clients.
One of the two processing companies has orange plantations in Nicaragua, near the border. Growing conditions are favorable in that area, and land prices and labor costs are generally lower. The local industry has partnered with Nicaraguan businesses to plant orange groves in that country. The area planted is not expected to grow in Nicaragua or Costa Rica at this time, as the company prefers to improve its current operation through replanting and investments in irrigation. According to data from the Government of Costa Rica, the country imported 73,306 MT of fresh oranges from Nicaragua in 2018, compared to 67,992 MT during 2017. Imports from Nicaragua during 2019 reached 66,000 MT through October. Oranges from Nicaraguan plantations are trucked to Costa Rica for processing at TicoFrut’s plant located in Muelle, San Carlos.
The local industry estimates area planted at around 21,000 hectares (ha) and 7.4 million orange trees, including the area planted on the Nicaraguan side of the border. The Government of Costa Rica estimates area planted slightly higher of 23,400 ha. The number of trees is gradually increasing because farmers are renovating their plantations with the “Flying Dragon” pattern, which allows for a higher number of trees per hectare (ha) and easier farm management. The “Flying Dragon” pattern is planted at 830 to 900 trees/ha, as compared to a range of 312 to 444 trees/ha for other varieties. As this pattern takes hold, the number of trees should increase in the next few years, as producers replant or renovate their farms using this variety. The main producers are renovating older plantations with new trees, rather than increasing new area planted. This process is expected to result in higher future production, without major changes in total area planted. For instance, one of the larger growers plans to renovate 295 ha of older plantations in 2020.
The citrus greening disease, which was identified in 2011 in Costa Rica, remains a major concern for producers and has put a limit to the expansion of the industry because of the uncertainty it creates among growers. According to industry sources, the disease has now spread throughout most of the country’s growing areas. The disease is difficult to manage, as it increases production costs, which could result in high losses. So far, the largest grower has been able to contain the disease and has established strict controls to that effect, including constant farm surveillance, inspection of all farms, and eradication of 100 percent of the affected plants. The local industry uses agrochemicals and biological controls (a wasp that feeds on the vector of the disease, called Tamarixia Radiata), as part of their preventive measures. Although the disease has not caused significant losses to the larger producers, the small producers have suffered losses from its effects.
Total production is forecast to increase by 15,000 MT in MY2019/2020, to 310,000 MT, due to renovations of the older citrus plantations. Production fell slightly in MY2018/2019 as some of the fruit fell from the trees and was not picked-up on time. Also, the rains on the Costa Rican side were normal during 2018 and produced a good flowering but later stopped and resulted in the loss of some of that flowering, and lower production of oranges during MY2018/2019. The local industry indicates that production has become more stable in the last few years as a result of the implementation of crop practices related to the control of post-blooming fruit drop over the last four years. Production on the Nicaraguan side is expected to be stronger in MY2019/2020 based on company crop surveys, thus resulting in a slightly higher production forecast.
One of the main orange producers in the country invested in irrigation systems in some of the drier areas, particularly on the Nicaraguan side of the border. About 1,200 ha have irrigation, which has resulted in better yields in those areas.
Costa Rica exports the majority of its orange production as frozen orange juice concentrate, but also exports non-frozen concentrate juice. According to information from the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Board (PROCOMER), during calendar year 2018 juice exports to all destinations amounted to 36,936 MT valued at $68.2 million. This compares to 29,152 MT valued at $61.9 million during 2017. Data available for January-October 2019 show a decline in volume and value, reaching 32,255 MT and $49.4 million respectively.
The United States continues to be Costa Rica’s main destination for orange juice exports. Exports to the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) reached 24,657 MT valued at $57.5 million during 2018. During the period January – October 2019, exports to the U.S. amounted to 18,995 MT valued at $37.4 million. The main destination in the EU is the Netherlands. Exports to that country in 2017 were 3,290 MT, 7,954 in 2018, and 6,775 MT during January – October 2019. Exports to China more than doubled from 1,673 MT in 2018 to 4,631 MT during January – October of 2019, thus becoming Costa Rica’s third market in importance.
Costa Rican orange juice enters the United States duty free under the CAFTA – DR.
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Daniel Errotabere Elected President of Westlands Water District
On December 17, 2019, Don Peracchi announced that he would step down as President of Westlands Water District’s Board, effective December 31, 2019. Following his announcement, the District’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to elect Director Daniel Errotabere as President of the District.
Mr. Peracchi stated, “It has been an honor to serve as Westlands’ President, and I am proud of the District’s accomplishments over the last several years. These include the District’s role in passage of the WIIN Act, its role in negotiating revisions to the Coordinated Operations Agreement, conversion of the District’s water service contract to a repayment contract, and development of the groundwater sustainability plan. The District has a well-functioning Board supported by competent, dedicated staff. I believe it’s time to provide another Director with the opportunity to serve as President of the District.”
Tom Birmingham, the District’s general manager, stated, “On behalf of the staff, I want to express our appreciation to Mr. Peracchi. Few people understand the time commitment required to serve as Westlands’ President; it is a full-time job. Mr. Peracchi led the District through difficult times, when drought and regulatory restrictions severely reduced water supply, but because of his leadership on the Board, the District is in a good position.”
Mr. Errotabere stated, “Don Peracchi leaves big shoes to fill. He did an incredible job of leading the District through difficult times. I am gratified that the Board has confidence in my ability to continue the course set by Don and the Board.”
Mr. Peracchi has served as a Director of Westlands since 2008 and was elected President in 2011. He will remain on the Board of Directors. Mr. Errotabere, who previously served as Westlands’ President from 2002 through 2005, will begin his second term as President of Westlands on January 1, 2020.
Westlands is a public water district governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. Elections for the Board are held every two years and Directors are elected to four-year terms in office. The Board elects the District President and appoints other officers.
Westlands Water District is the largest agricultural water district in the United States, made up of more than 1,000 square miles of prime farmland in western Fresno and Kings Counties. Under federal contracts, Westlands provides water to 700 family-owned farms that average 653 acres in size.