California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Tree Fruit

  • Avocado Commission Seeks Nominees for Board Vacancies

    The California Avocado Commission has one District 5 producer member seat, one District 4 producer alternate member seat, and one handler alternate member seat available on the CAC Board of Directors. The deadline to submit nominations is February 25. Completed forms should be emailed to cac.iaf@avocado.org.

    The vacancies will be filled by a majority vote of the Board at a meeting held on March 5. The District 4 seat and handler seat will serve through October 31, 2027. The District 5 seat will serve through October 31, 2026.

    Persons interested in serving on the CAC Board must complete the relevant forms listed below.

    Qualifications for the producer positions are as follows:

    • Nominee shall certify they meet the definition of a producer/grower as defined by CAC: “engaged within this state in the business of producing, or causing to be produced, avocados for market.” It should be noted the definition does not include persons whose average annual production is less than 10,000 pounds of avocados in the three preceding market years.
    • Nominee shall certify they are not a handler or employee of a handler under the same entity that qualifies them as a producer.
    • Nominees can be nominated in only one district — those who produce avocados in more than one district must select one district for their nomination.
    • Nominees must complete and submit all required documents and maintain their qualifications throughout the term of their office.

    Qualifications for the handler position are as follows:

    • Nominee shall certify they meet the definition of a handler as defined by CAC: “has a financial interest in handling avocados for market either through ownership, employment or membership in a legal entity which is actively and directly engaged in the handling of avocados.”
    • Nominee shall certify they are “actively and directly engaged in the handling of California avocados
    • Nominees must complete and submit all required documents and maintain their qualifications throughout the term of their office.

    For additional information, contact the Commission at 949.341.1955 or email cac.iaf@avocado.org. —By California Avocado Commission

  • Slight Citrus Production Decrease Predicted for Mexico

    In market year (MY) 2025/26, total citrus production in Mexico is expected to decrease slightly by 0.4 percent from the previous year, driven primarily by a decrease in orange production. MY 2024/25 fresh orange production is estimated down on heavy rains caused by tropical storms Raymond and Priscilla that hit main producing regions in October 2025 postponing harvesting in some areas until early MY 2025/26. Environmental factors, such as prolonged drought, extreme heat, and erratic rainfall, are expected to hamper production. Orange juice production is subsequently also projected down slightly on lower available orange supplies and inconsistent fruit quality. Exports of fresh citrus fruit are projected to maintain a relatively moderate upward trend for fresh lemons/limes and a marginal decrease for fresh oranges.

    Executive Summary:

    MY 2025/26 total production in Mexico of fresh oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit is expected to decrease by 0.4 percent from the previous year as Mexican citrus production remains challenged by adverse environmental conditions such as prolonged drought and high temperatures affecting many of Mexico’s key producing areas.

    Mexico’s total domestic consumption is up an average 4 percent across all fresh citrus, driven by a 6 percent increase in fresh lemon/lime consumption. However, consumer purchasing behavior continues to be primarily constrained by the economic environment. While included in the Mexican Department of Agriculture’s official basic food basket, or “canasta basica,” fresh citrus and other fruit products are generally not prioritized as staple food items by medium and low-income Mexican consumers.

    Fresh citrus fruit exports are expected to continue to rise due to a moderate increase in lemon/lime exports offsetting declining orange exports. MY 2025/26 fresh citrus exports are projected to be above MY 2024/25 exports due to higher available exportable lemon/lime supplies. Mexico’s imports of fresh citrus fruit are minimal and largely unchanged year to year. In 2024, according to Agri-food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP), total area planted with citrus fruits covered in this report (oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit) reached over 604,000 hectares, a 1.2 percent increase from the previous year. Oranges make up 58 percent of total citrus planted area, lemons 38 percent, and grapefruit 3.6 percent. This distribution has remained consistent for the last 11 years.

    Planted Area

    For MY 2025/26 (November/October), Post projects orange planted area at 356,800 hectares (ha), a 0.97 percent increase from the previous year. Over the last couple of years, Mexico’s largest orange growing regions have been affected by prolonged drought, and recently in October, tropical storm Priscilla caused severe flooding in the state of Veracruz. Most of the damage took place in orange groves close to riverbanks. Additionally, HLB (Huanglongbing), also known

    as yellow dragon disease, and other pests continue to reduce yields in Veracruz and other major

    producing states.

    In general, farmers face higher operational costs, driven by increasing prices of fertilizer, electricity, and fuel. To address these challenges, large-scale growers are exploring improved post-harvest strategies as well as implementing sustainable solutions such as the use of bio-stimulant products and good agroecological practices. Across the

    country, for the last five years constant weather fluctuations like extreme heat, limited water availability, and intense downpours in short periods of time have hampered crop production and fruit quality, especially in terms of size and juice content.

    For MY 2024/25, large growers producing under irrigation systems expect their fruit to be well-sized and with more juice content but anticipate a decline in their external (cosmetic) appearance, making the fruit less attractive for the retail market. Consequently, growers often delay cutting/harvesting the fruit produced in irrigated orchards to secure a better market price with improved product quality.

    Based on available official data, Mexico’s MY 2024/25 orange planted area is estimated to be 353,342 hectares, a marginal decrease from 353,609 ha in MY 2023/24. In 2024, the majority of Mexico’s total orange planted area was concentrated in the states of Veracruz (48.6 percent), Puebla (10 percent), Tamaulipas (10 percent), San Luis Potosi (9 percent), and Nuevo Leon (7 percent). Other states combined accounted for the remaining 15 percent.

    Production

    Despite a moderate increase in planted area, Post forecasts orangeproduction for MY 2025/26 will decrease 2.8 percent from the previous year at 4.7 million metric tons (MMT) on adverse weather. In October 2025, tropical storms Raymond and Priscilla damaged many orange orchards near riverbanks in major producing areas in Veracruz and interrupted end-of-marketing year harvesting activities. Although the storms caused major fruit loss in those affected areas, many fruits remained unharvested on the trees and were unable to be harvested until November-December 2025 and thus will be counted towards MY 2025/26 production.

    Mexico’s MY 2024/25 orange production is estimated at 4.83 MMT based on available official data. This represents a decrease of 2.1 percent from the previous year’s estimated production of 4.96 MMT. Over past few years, production has been unstable due mainly to adverse environmental conditions including prolonged droughts, high temperatures, and erratic rainfall. In the current year, growers anticipate lower output and average external (aesthetic) fruit quality, although with good flavor and juice content. According to estimates from both Post and USDA official data for MY 2024/25, Mexico holds a firm fourth position in global orange production, accounting for 11 percent of the worldwide total, behind Brazil, China, and the European Union.

    Using available official data, Post estimates Mexico’s national orange yield for MY 2024/25 at 14.17 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha), a decrease of 2.2 percent from the previous year as a result of the unprecedented heavy rains in October. Post anticipates that the environmental conditions mentioned will continue to negatively affect planting, harvesting, and overall citrus yields in MY 2025/26.

    The state of Veracruz largely determines the trajectory of Mexico’s orange crop, as it accounts for almost half of the total national planted area for oranges. According to SIAP official data, orange production in MY 2024/25 is 2.1 percent lower than the 4.94 MMT crop in MY 2023/24. The decrease in volume is mainly attributable to a 23.2 percent decrease in production in Tamaulipas, the second largest orange producing state, although the loss was offset by a 1.1 percent increase in production in Veracruz and a 9.8 percent volume increase in Puebla, the third largest producer in CY 2024. In CY 2024, according to available official data, Nuevo Leon ranks fifth with 5 percent of total national orange production. Based on Mexican official available data, in CY 2024, national orange production exceeded 4.83 MMT. The Valencia orange continues to be the predominant variety with over 95 percent of national orange production followed by the Hamlin variety with 4 percent. The Marrs, Navel, and Criolla varieties account for the remaining 1 percent. The ratio among orange varieties has remained stable for many years. Based on expectations among orange growers/packers regarding current higher fresh orange retail market prices versus prices offered for fresh oranges by juice processors, the price difference could potentially lower available fresh orange inputs for the juice industry in MY 2025/26.

    Phytosanitary Issues Huanglongbing (HLB) or yellow dragon is a phytosanitary hazard to citrus growers and present in Mexico’s major citrus producing areas. To mitigate the impact of HLB, Mexico’s federal and state governments continue to work together to implement measures such as biological control and integrated pest management, in addition to training and promoting good agricultural practices.

    Consumption

    Post forecasts Mexico’s domestic fresh orange consumption at 2.7 MMT in MY 2025/26, a moderate 3 percent increase from the previous marketing year. This increase is largely due to the marketing year shift of many MY 2024/25 fruits that were delayed in being harvested due to tropical storms in October 2025. The uptick is also due to fewer fruits being destined for processing into juice as prices for fresh oranges currently outpace those offered by the juice industry, creating higher available fresh fruit supplies for consumers. However, this expected increase in consumption is likely to be curbed by economic factors that continue to affect consumers’ purchasing power. According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) in September 2025, the cost of basic food basket products increased by 3.6 percent year-over-year in rural areas, slightly below the overall annual inflation rate (3.8 percent), whereas in urban areas the increase in food basic basket products reached 4.7 percent. The rising price of food continues impacting consumers’ purchasing decisions, making them more selective when buying food items such as fruits. Oranges, for example are included in the basic food basket “Canasta Básica,” but they are prioritized lower by lower/middle class families than animal proteins such as poultry and eggs. Fresh orange consumption in MY 2024/25 is estimated at 2.61 MMT.

    Trade

    For MY 2025/26, Post forecasts Mexico’s fresh orange exports at 49,000 MT, a decrease of 9 percent versus 54,000 MT estimated for MY 2024/25 due to lower available exportable fruit and SPS-related logistical challenges for producers in Nuevo Leon. Nuevo Leon’s orange production for CY 2024 is up 7 percent from CY 2023 according to available official data; however, exporters in this region face costly logistical burdens with the cessation of APHIS’ roving seasonal inspection services in the high production area of Montemorelos a few years ago. Although Nuevo Leon borders the United States, fruit packers in Nuevo Leon must now send their shipments down south around 180 miles to San Luis Potosi to have their fruits irradiated at an APHIS-approved facility before sending them back north for export to United States, per information on SENASICA’s website Moreover, according to producers, fresh orange prices in Mexico are lucrative enough that many suppliers are choosing to sell to the local market over exporting. Consequently, Post estimates a

    drop in the volume of fresh orange exports from Mexico to the United States in MY 2025/26. Historically, the United States has accounted for over 98 percent of Mexican orange exports.

    MY 2025/26 fresh orange imports are forecast at 31,000 MT, a 24 percent increase from 25,000 MT of imports in MY 2024/25, considering the drop in domestic production volume and relatively steady fruit imports from the United States. Mexico imports fresh oranges exclusively from the United States, which go to retail and wholesale markets.

    Policy

    At the time of this report, the exportation of fresh oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines from Mexico to the United States is allowed for compliant products under current USDA/APHIS and SADER/SENASICA work plans. Since 1988, the state of Sonora has been a fruit fly-free zone according to USDA/APHIS, and fruit grown in this state is not regulated by the applicable work plans for citrus fruits. Read the full report at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Citrus%20Annual_Monterrey%20ATO_Mexico_MX2025-0069.pdf — By USDA Foreign Ag Service Mexico and Eduardo Lozano

  • Doubled Peaches Cause Double Trouble for Growers and Processors

    Two for one deals aren’t always a bargain growers are looking for. Doubles can occur in stone fruits like peaches when environmental factors like water stress impact the developing ovary and cause it to create a twin. This can result in off sizes and challenges for processors. UCCE Farm Advisor Cameron Zuber spoke about the issue at the Malcolm Media Tree & Vine Expo, and with Matthew Malcolm of California Ag Network. Watch this quick video and learn more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot for their industry support.

  • California Pear Farmers Seek Relief From Surging Argentine Imports That Undercut U.S. Market

    California pear farmers are fighting for survival as a surge of low-priced pear imports from Argentina continues to flood the U.S. market each year just as the domestic harvest begins. Industry leaders are now in discussions with staff at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to find meaningful relief from a situation they say has become a major driver of the decline of California’s historic pear industry, which dates back to the Gold Rush.

    “Since 2016, Argentine exports of fresh pears to the U.S. have increased by 125 percent in direct competition with California Bartlett and Bosc pears, particularly in the early season,” said Chris Zanobini, Executive Director of the California Pear Advisory Board. “Argentina has been flooding the U.S. market just before the start of California’s harvest in early July.”

    Although Argentina supplies more than 90 percent of pears imported into the U.S. during winter months, Zanobini notes that roughly 70 percent of Argentine pear imports now arrive in April and May—after long storage periods and right as California growers prepare to ship their first fresh fruit.

    “This flood of cheap imports has a devastating impact on California growers,” he said. “Retailers feature these low-priced imports instead of newly harvested U.S. pears. Additionally, retail data indicates these imported pears are not being sold to shoppers at a discount. It’s bad for farmers and it’s bad for consumers.”

    James Christie, president of Bryant Christie Inc. (BCI), which represents several U.S. agricultural groups including the California pear industry, says the need for action is urgent.

    “The stakes are high and this will be a challenge, but we are doing everything we can to fight for California farmers,” Christie said. “The USTR has indicated they are looking for ways to help U.S. farmers manage import pressures. That is exactly what we are asking for.”

    Christie emphasized that tariffs alone are unlikely to solve the problem.
    “We are requesting relief in the form of a quota on Argentine pears or a defined period during which these imports cannot enter the U.S.,” he said.

    According to Zanobini, Argentine pears are counter-seasonal to U.S. production, meaning the fruit arriving in spring has often been stored for half a year. Many Argentine shippers also use 1-MCP, an anti-ripening agent that extends storage life but can prevent pears from ripening properly, resulting in a poor eating experience for consumers.

    “California pear shippers have pledged never to use this chemical,” Zanobini noted. “But when our fresh, newly harvested pears arrive, they are forced to compete with old, stored fruit that often won’t ripen.”

    The impact is tangible. Zanobini described a major lost opportunity this past July:

    “A national grocery chain had planned a large promotion featuring our early California fruit, including a price premium,” he said. “But the retailer canceled, citing a market flooded with Argentine pears. Our shippers lost both the sales and the premium.”

    Small Family Farms at Risk

    “This is just one example of how Argentine imports are harming U.S. farmers,” Christie said. “California pear growers are struggling. Acreage is shrinking. The number of pear growers continues to decline.”

    Zanobini added that the industry is composed of small, multi-generational family farms known for producing nutritious fruit using some of the most environmentally responsible practices in the world.

    “These are exactly the types of farmers U.S. trade policy should protect,” he said.

    He also pointed out that pears are not alone. “California pear growers are just one of many U.S. farmers suffering from recent trade negotiations—from soybean farmers to cattle ranchers to citrus growers,” Zanobini said. “While the Trump Administration provides the Argentinian government with a $40 billion bailout, we believe there is room to negotiate a fair deal that prevents Argentine imports from undercutting U.S. farmers in their own market.”

    Christie underscored the urgency of the issue. “California’s pear industry may be small within U.S. agriculture, but that does not make it unimportant,” he said. “If anything, the fact that these are small family farmers should make defending them a priority.”

  • Didn’t Get Much of a Cherry Crop This Year? This Might be Why…

    Some Central Valley cherry growers grappled with little to no yields this year. Cherries are notoriously a high risk crop, but can be highly profitable when they yield well. Unfortunately, that was not the case for some Central Valley growers this year. But how could this have happened? UC Cooperative Extension Fruit & Almond Advisor Raymond Mireles met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to explain. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in the coming issue of California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • Stink Bugs Foul Up Central Valley Stone Fruit

    While growers hoped the invasive brown marmorated stink bug would stay out of California orchards, they seem to have taken a liking to stone fruit, along with other stink bug species, and caused problems for some growers this year. UC Cooperative Extension Fruit & Almond Advisor Raymond Mireles shared this at Malcolm Media’s recent Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo in Fresno. Following his presentation, Raymond met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to explain. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • Why Do Some of My Peaches Stay Small and Never Fully Develop?

    Have you seen “nubbins” in your orchard? During a presentation at Malcolm Media’s recent Tree & Vine Expo, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Cameron Zuber described nubbins as occasional smaller sized fruit you may find on a peach tree that never fully develops. Watch this brief interview as Zuber meets with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to explain nubbins and why you might be seeing them in your orchard.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • Global Demand Rises for California Figs, Met with Ideal Growing Conditions

    California fig growers have experienced delayed, yet ideal growing conditions this year.  Karla Stockli CEO of the California Fresh Fig Growers Association and California Fig Advisory Board met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network in August to share an outlook for the 2025 crop and some exciting new global market opportunities for both fresh and dried California figs. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

  • Nation’s Largest Fig Grower Embraces Exciting New Variety

    There is a new fig variety finally being commercially harvested this year in California. Exclusively grown (for the time being) by the nation’s largest fig grower, The Specialty Crop Company, multi-generational Central Valley farmer Erik Herman met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network in August to talk about the performance of the new variety and share some insights on this year’s fig crop and how it’s expected to be received in the market. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

  • 2025-26 California Mandarin Forecast Down Significantly

    The 2025-26 California forecast for only the Tango and W. Murcott Afourer Mandarin varieties is 33.0 million 40-lb. cartons. This forecast is based on the results of the 2025-26 Mandarin Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was conducted from July 1 to August 28, 2025. Estimated fruit set per tree, fruit diameter, trees per acre, bearing acreage, and mandarins per box were used in the statistical models estimating production.

    Survey data indicated a fruit set per tree of 504, down 24% from the previous year. The average diameter from the survey was 1.359 inches, up 1% from last year for these varieties. Bearing acreage is estimated at 35,000, which results in a yield of 943 40-lb. cartons per acre.

    Funding for the survey was provided by the California Citrus industry.

    SURVEY HISTORY

    This is the third year the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Regional Office has published a production forecast of Tango and W. Murcott Afourer Mandarin varieties. Fruit counts and size measurements have been collected each year since 2020 to build the dataset for the statistical models.

    SURVEY SAMPLE

    A sample of 337 Tango and W. Murcott Afourer Mandarin groves were randomly selected proportional to county and variety bearing acreage, with 332 of these groves utilized in this survey. Once a grove was randomly chosen and grower permission was granted, two trees were randomly selected from each grove. For each randomly selected tree, its 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 it. This randomly selected branch, called the terminal branch, was then closely inspected to count all fruit connected to it, as well as all fruit along the path from the trunk to the terminal branch. Since each selected path has a probability of selection associated with it, 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 collected on the right quadrant of four trees surrounding the two sampled trees. These measurements were used to estimate an average fruit diameter per tree.