California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Industry News

  • Fruit World Co. Announces Flavor-Packed Organic and Conventional Citrus as Season Begins

    Reedley, CA (September 30, 2019) – Fruit World Co., a family-owned, flavor-focused grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit, has announced their 2019 citrus season will see a full lineup of citrus fruits in promotable volumes. This includes organic and conventional mandarins, both of which have full-season longevity and availability.

    “We’re excited to be entering citrus season with a robust organic and conventional mandarin program, which this year includes five varieties of organic mandarins and the earliest availability of conventional California mandarins,” said CJ Buxman, co-founder of Fruit World and organic mandarin grower. “Our team takes great pride in our ‘Boots on the ground. Hands in the soil.’ approach to producing high-quality fruit. We know consumers will be thrilled with the look, aroma, and taste of our citrus all season long.”

    Many of the company’s organic mandarins are produced by Fruit World’s own CJ Buxman in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Buxman grows a full line of organic mandarin varieties—Satsuma, Clementine, Page, Tango and Gold Nugget—with a November to June full-flavor producing season. Fruit World expects to ship more organic mandarins than ever this season, and projects a 20% increase in volume from the 2018 season.

    Fruit World is one of few growers with an uninterrupted season-long organic mandarin program. They are also unique in offering conventional Stem & Leaf mandarins, a premium fruit offering desirable for its eye-catching shelf-appeal, visible freshness, and vivid color. The company’s business strategy focuses on selecting the best varieties of fruits throughout the season so they can continually meet demand and deliver quality, with fruit harvested at just the right time to capture peak flavors.

    “Complementing our focus on flavor is our commitment to service,” said Bianca Kaprielian, Fruit World co-founder. “From efficient and accurate order fulfillment to harvests hand-matched to customer preferences, we know that the extra effort we put into relationships with our customers, and tailoring programs to their needs, helps them achieve their business goals and delight consumers.”

    Fruit World has a year-long California-grown organic lemon program with promotable volumes November through March. Organic grapefruit will be available in early October, followed by organic Navel oranges starting late October, with peak quantities December through February. In addition, Fruit World offers a variety of specialty citrus starting in late December, including Blood oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Meyer lemons, and Minneola tangelos.

     

  • BASF Launches Operation Weed Eradication to Help Growers Eradicate Weeds

    BASF launched a new industry-wide initiative to eliminate on-farm weeds. Operation Weed Eradication calls on growers and partners to take action against troublesome weeds in their fields, through cultural practices, chemical control and enhanced diligence.

    Research by Stratus Ag shows that nearly 75 percent of growers nationwide are dealing with glyphosate-resistant weeds in their fields and today’s management practices are not sustainable for long-term control of problem weeds such as pigweed.

    “Our approach to on-farm eradication will uproot problem weeds and help secure a sustainable farming future that builds a successful legacy for seasons and generations to come,” said Scott Kay, Vice President U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Weed eradication will be a personalized, tailored journey for each grower with different start and end points. BASF will support growers with expertise and continuous innovation to support this journey.”

    Operation Weed Eradication takes a balanced approach of utilizing cultural practices such as conventional tillage, chemical control such as rotating chemistries, and eradication diligence such as hand weeding to help growers eradicating troublesome on-farm weeds.

    In the coming months, BASF will assemble a coalition of industry leaders, develop a specific eradication customer offering and launch an educational initiative to support its efforts with Operation Weed Eradication.To learn more, please visit

    OperationWeedEradication.com.

  • Gerawan Farming and Wawona Packing Merge to Create Leading Stone Fruit Producer

    Gerawan Farming Inc. (“Gerawan”) and Wawona Packing Co., LLC (“Wawona”), today announced that they have completed a merger. Paine Schwartz, an existing investor in Wawona and a global leader in sustainable food chain investing, is partnering with both companies to facilitate the transaction. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    Both Gerawan and Wawona are third-generation family businesses. Gerawan is a stone fruit industry pioneer with best-in-class farming, packing practices, and proprietary varieties marketed under the Prima® brand. Wawona is a California-based supplier of high-quality stone fruit and a leader in the organic segment of the market. The merger builds upon the legacies and reputations of the two industry-leading companies and creates an enhanced platform for growth and innovation. The combined business will be able to better serve its customers and create significant opportunities for employees.

    The combined company will be led by Dan Gerawan, who will be the largest individual shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of the merged entity. Brent Smittcamp, current Executive Chairman of Wawona, will also remain a significant shareholder and continue to be highly involved with the combined company. The management team will be comprised of leaders from both companies.

    Mr. Gerawan said, “At Gerawan, innovating on a large scale to grow, pack and ship the world’s best fruit has been key to our success, and those efforts have always hinged on investing in our employees. These same values underpin Wawona’s success. This merger is an exciting next step to unlock the full potential of both companies.” Mr. Smittcamp, Executive Chairman of Wawona, said, “Over the last several years, we have focused on accelerating Wawona’s growth by building on the inherent strengths of our business and management team. Our acquisition last year of Burchell Nursery Inc. was one example, and now this historic merger with Gerawan takes it to yet another level. We are eager to bring the benefits of this merger to our employees, suppliers and customers.”Mr. Gerawan continued, “We have great respect for Wawona’s management and employees, all of whom share our passion for producing the highest-quality stone fruit. We look forward to working closely with them and the team at Paine Schwartz to deliver even more of the best quality fruit to our customers.”

    Kevin Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Paine Schwartz, said, “This merger represents a tremendous milestone and the type of growth opportunity that we can achieve by leveraging Paine Schwartz’s agribusiness sector expertise and close collaboration with family-owned businesses. We look forward to this new chapter for two companies that have been incredibly successful on their own, and we believe they can achieve even greater success through this merger. Dan’s experience and commitment are invaluable assets, and we look forward to supporting him in leading the combined company in this next stage of growth and value creation.”

     

  • BASF Launches Operation Weed Eradication to Help Growers Eradicate Weeds

    BASF launched a new industry-wide initiative to eliminate on-farm weeds. Operation Weed Eradication calls on growers and partners to take action against troublesome weeds in their fields, through cultural practices, chemical control and enhanced diligence.

    Research by Stratus Ag shows that nearly 75 percent of growers nationwide are dealing with glyphosate-resistant weeds in their fields and today’s management practices are not sustainable for long-term control of problem weeds such as pigweed.

    “Our approach to on-farm eradication will uproot problem weeds and help secure a sustainable farming future that builds a successful legacy for seasons and generations to come,” said Scott Kay, Vice President U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Weed eradication will be a personalized, tailored journey for each grower with different start and end points. BASF will support growers with expertise and continuous innovation to support this journey.”

    Operation Weed Eradication takes a balanced approach of utilizing cultural practices such as conventional tillage, chemical control such as rotating chemistries, and eradication diligence such as hand weeding to help growers eradicating troublesome on-farm weeds.

    In the coming months, BASF will assemble a coalition of industry leaders, develop a specific eradication customer offering and launch an educational initiative to support its efforts with Operation Weed Eradication.To learn more, please visit

    OperationWeedEradication.com.

  • ACP-HLB Task Force Recommends ACP Treatment in Bakersfield

    To prevent Asian citrus psyllid populations from developing in Kern County this fall, the San Joaquin Valley ACP-HLB Task Force recommends growers with citrus blocks east and south of Bakersfield make a soil-applied imidacloprid treatment or a foliar-applied Actara treatment before mid-September.

    Over the past several years, psyllid detections in Kern County have usually occurred in the fall – starting in September and peaking in October. The San Joaquin Valley ACP-HLB Task Force has been tracking and analyzing psyllid detections to date in Kern County and believes a soil-applied imidacloprid treatment or a foliar-applied Actara treatment will help suppress this historical increase in the fall psyllid population and minimize the risk of Huanglongbing (HLB) transmission.

    In order to protect our citrus from HLB, it is extremely important to keep psyllid populations as low as possible. Last year’s coordinated treatment significantly helped mitigate and suppress this historical increase in the fall psyllid population and inhibit possible transmission of HLB. This is especially important in light of the significant level of HLB-positive citrus trees in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.

    The San Joaquin Valley ACP-HLB Task Force recommends growers with citrus blocks east and south of Bakersfield should:

    • Treat all of their citrus blocks, including non-bearing trees, located east and south of Bakersfield with imidacloprid (Admire Pro, generic imidacloprid 2F or 4F, etc.) or a foliar-applied Actara treatment.
    • Make the application sometime between mid-August and mid-September.
    • Read and follow all label instructions. Read the University of California’s recommendations.
    • Submit your Pesticide Use Report for this application electronically if possible. If you cannot send electronically, send a copy of the original PUR directly to Kern County grower liaison Judy Zaninovich at jsleslie@msn.com.

    Questions? Contact Judy Zaninovich at jsleslie@msn.comor 559-730-8691.

  • USDA to Survey Fruit Growers about Chemical Use

    In the next few weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey fruit growers in 12 states, including California, for its biennial Fruit Chemical Use Survey. Growers across the nation will provide information on bearing acreage, pest management practices, fertilizer types, and application rates for more than 21 fruit crops.

    “Growers benefit from providing this information because it is used to re-register products for their use, to illustrate the industry’s environmental practices, and to assure the quality of U.S. food to consumers here and around the world,” said Gary Keough, director of the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office, “I encourage every grower to take the time to respond if they receive this survey.”

    The Fruit Chemical Use Survey will provide much needed information about the current crop production practices used in the United States. The results of this survey will paint a detailed picture of pesticide use and other pest management practices used by the fruit growers across the nation. To conduct the survey, NASS representatives will contact selected California growers to arrange in-person interviews. The results of this survey will be available in aggregate form only, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law.

    Survey results will be published in NASS’s online database, Quick Stats, in July 2020. This database and all NASS reports are available on the agency’s web site: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • Argentine Ant Inhibits Biocontrol Options for Deadly Citrus Pests

    Growers want to minimize their pesticide use in the orchard; but when you have invasive pests like the Argentine Ant protecting aphids and psyllids from natural predators, your options are limited.  Watch this brief interview with Greg Simmons from the USDA-APHIS as he explains and read more about it in California Fresh Fruit Magazine.

  • Marcy Martin Named CA Citrus Research Board President

    Marcy L. Martin was named today as the new president of the Citrus Research Board (CRB). The appointment was announced by CRB Chairman Dan Dreyer, who said that Martin was selected after a nearly year-long national search for the very best candidate to lead the organization.

    Martin joins the CRB with more than 25 years of experience with California commodity organizations. She most recently served for 14 years as director of trade for the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA), where she advocated on behalf of the state’s fresh grape, blueberry, pomegranate and deciduous tree fruit production in governmental, legislative and policy issues. Prior to that, she had been controller of the California Apple Commission for ten years.

    In 2015, then U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack appointed Martin to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables. In his announcement, Vilsack said of those who were appointed, “They are an invaluable asset as we work to enact trade agreements and trade policies that deliver the greatest economic benefit for U.S. agriculture and for our nation as a whole.”

    “California’s citrus growers, packers and shippers have demonstrated through their keen understanding that an industry must invest in sound research to meet the challenges of a constantly evolving environment, marketplace and consumer,” said Martin. “The Citrus Research Board, industry, staff and research community have stepped up to take on looming challenges, specifically huanglongbing, that have devastated citrus production within other regions, both domestically and globally. This is an area I am passionate about, and I look forward to bringing my experience in the technical and regulatory arena to the team.”

    Dreyer said, “The Board is pleased to have Marcy Martin taking the helm of CRB. Her extensive experience with commodity organizations and local, state and federal regulatory agencies will be a key ingredient to the success of CRB projects and priorities. She comes to the CRB with extensive knowledge of fresh tree fruit production and the agricultural use of plant protection products. Our Board members were impressed by her dedication to and passion for agriculture.”

    “The California citrus industry is an important economic contributor and an icon of the Golden State,” Martin said. “Citrus is part of our American and Californian agricultural footprint – a commodity we need to preserve and foster. I’m honored to be part of this continuing tradition.”

    Martin officially will join the CRB on October 1 and will be based out of the CRB headquarters in Visalia, California. She will take the reins from Interim President Franco Bernardi.

    “We cannot thank Franco enough for his dedicated service to the CRB throughout the past year,” said Dreyer. “He did an excellent job in guiding the organization through a challenging period, and the Board has been truly grateful for his leadership.”
    About the Citrus Research Board
    The CRB administers the California Citrus Research Program, the grower-funded and grower-directed program established in 1968 enabling the State’s citrus producers to sponsor and support needed research. More information about the Citrus Research Board may be found at www.citrusresearch.org.

  • Friant Water Authority Shares Blueprint to Save Central Valley Farmland & Water

    With the tasking demands of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act coming down on California farmers, a considerable amount of farmland will have to be retired and will have a severe economic impact on the Central Valley.  But there has to be a way to meet the demands of the state without devastating our farming communities.  Watch this brief interview with Friant Water Authority CEO Jason Phillips as he shares their Water Blueprint initiative to meet both the State’s demands without robbing our critical farming communities of the water they need to continue feeding the world.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support by visiting them at their booth at the following November Events: Tree & Vine Expo, the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo & Blue Diamond Growers Annual Meeting.

  • Friant Water Authority Shares Blueprint to Save Central Valley Farmland & Water

    With the tasking demands of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act coming down on California farmers, a considerable amount of farmland will have to be retired and will have a severe economic impact on the Central Valley.  But there has to be a way to meet the demands of the state without devastating our farming communities.  Watch this brief interview with Friant Water Authority CEO Jason Phillips as he shares their Water Blueprint initiative to meet both the State’s demands without robbing our critical farming communities of the water they need to continue feeding the world.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support by visiting them at their booth at the following November Events: Tree & Vine Expo, the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo & Blue Diamond Growers Annual Meeting.