California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: California Fresh Fruit Magazine

  • UC Davis Olive Center to Hold ‘Introduction to Sensory Evaluation of Olive Oil’ Event

    Friday and Saturday, June 24-25, the UC Davis Olive Center will hold its first event of the year with two days of olive oil sensory instruction including tastings, lectures and roundtable discussions.

    This practical educational program is designed to provide a solid foundation for understanding and evaluating olive oil. In addition to learning about the positive sensory attributes and the defects of olive oil, participants will explore the factors that influence olive oil flavor and how quality is measured.

    Participants will also experiment with food and extra virgin olive oil pairings and discuss the culinary use of this transformative ingredient. Attendees who complete the training will receive a certificate for the introductory level as part of the UC Davis Olive Center’s comprehensive olive educational programming.

    The price is $1,150, which includes lunch and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. The location is UC DAVIS Olive Oil Center, Silverado Vineyards Sensory Theater at 392 Old Davis Road, Davis CA. The last day to register is June 15. Register and learn more here. 

  • Mechanical Pruning Trial in ‘French’ Prune – Through Year Three

    Work continues at the mechanical pruning trial site in Red Bluff. The trial, funded by the California Prune Board and led by Dr. Rich Rosecrance at Chico State, was initiated in 2019 and aims to identify lower cost pruning alternatives for growers without compromising yield or fruit quality. The study site is an orchard planted in 2011 at a spacing of 15’ x 18’ on Myrobalan seedling rootstock and irrigated with buried drip. This is a vigorous, well managed orchard with a history of producing 4-5 dry ton/acre. The study treatments are:

    1. Fall: Grower standard — ladders and loppers pruning, no topping (i.e. ‘control’).

    2. Spring: Topping and hedging both ways — cutting 5 sides of the canopy, with the tree row and across the tree row, plus topping (i.e. ‘boxed’).

    3. Fall: Topping and hedging both ways — cutting 5 sides of the canopy, with the tree row and across the tree row, plus topping (i.e. ‘boxed’).

    4. Spring: Hedging both sides of the tree row, no cross hedging — cutting 2 sides of the canopy, no topping (i.e. ‘hedged’). 

    5. Fall: Hedging both sides of the tree row, no cross hedging — cutting 2 sides of the canopy, no topping (i.e. ‘hedged’).

    Several measurements are collected annually to assess the effects of the pruning treatments. Highlights of 2021 results and planned 2022 measurements include:

    • –  Canopy volume was measured in May 2021. Trees boxed in spring were significantly smaller than the hand-pruned control. Trees boxed in fall or hedged in fall or spring did not differ significantly from the control.

    • –  A bark canker pathogen survey (Cytospora, Botryosphaeria, etc.) was conducted to establish a baseline of pathogens present in the field. Several canker pathogens were found, and the control treatment had the shortest canker length. A more thorough evaluation of disease presence and severity will be performed in 2022.

    • –  In 2021, a difference in severity of sunburn damage after extreme heat events was observed. The boxed treatments both had significantly less blue prune drop due to sunburn damage than the control or hedged treatments. This was surprising – fruit is typically exposed to higher light environments in the boxed trees. Though there is no definitive cause at the moment, it may be possible that bowing branches in the hedged treatments or reduced water stress in boxed trees due to smaller canopy size may have contributed. We will continue to assess these differences.

    • –  2021 treatment yields ranged between 3.0 and 4.3 dry ton marketable (A+B screens) yield per acre and no significant differences were found among the treatments in 2021 nor in cumulative yields (Table 1). Large fruit (A + B screens) comprised between 92% and 100% of the four-pound sample from all the treatments (Table 1). The spring hedged treatment did have significantly lower percentage of marketable (A+B screen) fruit than the control and fall boxed treatments. 

      — By Becky Wheeler-Dykes (Orchard Researcher, CSU Chico), Dr. Rich Rosecrance (Professor, College of Agriculture, CSU Chico), Luke Milliron (UCCE Farm Advisor Butte, Tehama & Glenn Counties), and Franz Niederholzer (UCCE Farm Advisor, Colusa & Sutter/Yuba Counties)

  • Joe Vargas Joins USHBC and NABC as First-Ever Director of Business Intelligence

    Joe Vargas has been hired as the director of business intelligence for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) and North American Blueberry Council (NABC). In this newly created role, Vargas is responsible for developing and leading a best-in-class data and insights program for the blueberry industry.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Joe to the team and can’t wait for him to lend his expertise to providing the blueberry industry with the data insights that are needed today to make smart business decisions,” said USHBC and NABC President Kasey Cronquist. “His experience and strong communications skills make him a perfect fit to develop and lead this part of our program at a critical time for the industry. He’ll help us use data to connect the dots to help us drive even greater demand opportunities for blueberries!”

    Prior to joining the councils, Vargas was the director of marketing, business development and business intelligence for FirstFruits Marketing in Yakima, Washington, and a lecturer at Central Washington University where he taught graduate and undergraduate data analytics courses. He also has experience in sales and management for firms including Copiers Northwest, Ecolab and MDC Promotions.

    He holds a master’s degree in information technology, with a focus on data structures and analytics, from Central Washington University, and a bachelor’s in economics, also from Central Washington.

    In his new role, Vargas will collect, analyze and communicate data that helps growers and industry experts make effective business decisions. He’ll also lead the USHBC and NABC Data and Insights Program, and will be responsible for building a production, inventory and historical price reporting program.

    “I’m thrilled to be joining USHBC and NABC in this critical new role for the industry,” Vargas said. “We live in an information age – data can be useful, but it’s even more valuable when combined with intelligence, research, context and professional judgment, and that’s where I’ll focus.”

  • Asian Citrus Psyllids Found in Fresno County

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Plant Pest Diagnostic Center (PPDC) has identified two Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) on a glassy-winged sharpshooter trap from a packinghouse in the Orange Cove area of Fresno County. This has been the first time that the ACP has been detected in Fresno County since November 2019.

    Following confirmation of the ACP detections, agricultural staff from the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division (CPDPD) began conducting a survey and subsequently collected additional suspect ACP adults and nymphs from trees on the packinghouse premises, which were sent to the PPDC for identification.

    All residential properties with host plants within 400 meters of the detections in Fresno County will be treated to prevent ACP population spread. Any growers who are located within 800 meters of the detection site will be notified by the Fresno County Grower Liaison Teri Blaser.

    Following an increase in recent ACP detections across the Central Valley, including in Tulare and Kern counties, growers, packers, haulers and all citrus industry members are encouraged to be extra vigilant in their ACP mitigation steps and adherence to regulatory practices.

    Questions?
    Contact your regional grower liaison for the latest information on detections near you and coordinated or area-wide treatment schedules. Find your grower liaison here.

    Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

  • Turlock Irrigation District Serves Growers, Conserves Water with New Technology

    Amidst a threatening drought, groups and individuals are working to find more ways to conserve the precious resource of water, and Turlock Irrigation District has been leading the way for sustainable water management with new technologies and strategies. Watch this brief interview with Michelle Reimers from Turlock Irrigation District as she explains their recent improvements and plans.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

     

  • CA State Fair Announces 2022 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition Winners

    The California State Fair is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 California Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. A panel of 12 certified sensory analyst judges gathered at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds, in Sacramento on May 18, to swirl, sniff, sip and analyze samples of olive oil from producers all over California. The annual competition celebrates the olive-growing and olive oil producing industries in California, and is open only to Extra Virgin and Flavored Olive Oils made from 100% olives which are grown, pressed and packaged in California.

    This year 468 shining, new bottles of olive oil lined the cellar shelves of Cal Expo. Each of the 117 entries arrived with the hope of their producers that their care, expertise and hard work would result in a coveted Best of Show Golden Bear Trophy.

    Competition Head Judge Orietta Gianjorio enlisted the talents of an exceptional group of skilled and experienced judges, some with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Gianjorio commented on the judging event, “It is always an honor to participate in the California State Fair Olive Oil Competition. All judges are incredibly talented and gifted tasters, deeply committed to the industry and high quality. The excitement in the room is palpable. After a couple of years of absence, we are all very happy to finally taste together and share our passion for California Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We are all thrilled to share our comments and taste amazing oils produced from this wonderful state of California.”

    The 2022 Best of Show Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the Tuscan Blend by Olive Truck of San Francisco, California. Sam Bayraktar’s personal initiative, Olive Truck, started operation in 2019 which he describes as “the most exciting food project of all time.” This mobile mill combines Sam’s own experience with a state of the art vacuum-milling technology. The Olive Truck can take production straight to the groves which allows manufacturing of high-quality, extra-fresh olive oil right from the source.

    The Best of Show Flavored Olive Oil is Kaffir Lime by IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company of Fairfield, California. IL Fiorello is a family-owned company dedicated to growing and milling the finest quality artisan olive oil. Owners Ann and Mark Sievers produce oil from their own certified organic groves.

    This competition honors Olive Oil producers at all production levels. The Best California Extra Virgin Olive Oil by a Micro-producer (Less than 500 gallons annually) was awarded to “Elegante” Certified Organic Arbequina by Fandango Olive Oil of Paso Robles, California. The Best of California Extra Virgin Olive Oil by an Artisan Producer (between 500 and 5,000 gallons annually) was awarded to Kaffir Lime by IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company of Fairfield, California. The Best California Extra Virgin Olive Oil by a Large Producer (more than 5,000 gallons annually) went to Arbequina by Wild Groves of Newcastle, California.

    During the 2022 California State Fair, July 15 – July 31, fair guests will enjoy an exhibit featuring award-winning extra virgin olive oils, free tastings, and the opportunity to purchase olive oil directly from award-winning California olive oil producers.

    Complete results and competition information can be found on the California State Fair website at CalExpoStateFair.com/California-Commercial-Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil

    About the California State Fair

    The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future. The 2022 State Fair will include a comprehensive list of competitions, including California’s best commercial wines, cheeses, olive oils, and fine arts, among others.

  • Citrus Growers Encouraged to Increase Vigilance Following Recent ACP Detections in Central Valley

    Following recent Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) detections in the Central Valley over the last few weeks, growers, packers, haulers and all citrus industry members are encouraged to be extra vigilant in their ACP mitigation steps and adherence to regulatory practices.

    Recently, multiple ACP were detected on traps at a packinghouse in the Woodlake area of Tulare County. Upon confirmation, visual delimitation surveys began the following day. Live adults or nymphs were found and collected at two more adjacent properties, including an abandoned parcel with citrus host plants. CDFA is working closely with the packinghouse to ensure regulatory compliance. Treatment of host plants on residential properties within 400 meters of the detection will be conducted by CDFA once all necessary notifications, emergency proclamations and public meetings have been held. Commercial citrus operations within 800 meters of the detections will be asked to conduct treatments as well.

    Additionally, one ACP was recently detected on a trap at a juice plant in Visalia, and upon completion of the visual delimitation survey of the find site and adjacent properties, there were no additional finds.

    In Kern County, three ACP trap detections have been identified in the last week. One in the city, and two in rural residential locations in Southwest Bakersfield. These are the first ACP detections found in Kern County since November 2021. CDFA teams have already begun delimitation surveys and treatments will be conducted on residential properties with host plants within a 50-meter area around the detections once proper notifications, emergency proclamations and public meetings have been held. There are no commercial operations for several miles around the Kern County detections.

    These detections are a resounding reminder to continue to follow ACP mitigation best practices and regulatory requirements to efficiently suppress ACP populations and prevent the spread of Huanglongbing to the Central Valley.

     

    If you suspect ACP or Huanglongbing in your orchard, please notify the California Department of Food and Agriculture Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. For questions, contact Kern County Grower Liaison Judy Zaninovich at jsleslie@msn.com, Northern Tulare County Grower Liaison Teri Blaser at tblasersci@ocsnet.net or Southern Tulare County Grower Liaison Jessica Leslie at jess.leslie@hotmail.com.

  • POM Wonderful Begins Transition To 100% Recycled Plastic And Renewable Energy

    POM Wonderful, the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the U.S., is proud to announce it is furthering its commitment to a sustainable future with the transition to 100% recycled plastic (rPET) bottles and shifting more than 90% of its electricity needs to renewable energy.

    Throughout North America, starting in May 2022, all 16 oz. bottles of POM Wonderful juices–100% Pomegranate Juice, Pomegranate Blueberry 100% Juice, and Pomegranate Cherry 100% Juice–will be bottled in 100% rPET. The new bottles will feature a “100% Recycled Plastic” logo. This commitment is just the beginning of the company’s overall strategy to reduce single-use plastic and transitions more than 11 million bottles to 100% rPET annually as the brand approaches its 20th anniversary this fall.

    As part of POM Wonderful’s ongoing sustainability journey, the company completed work on a solar farm at its processing plant in Del Rey, California. This project, which will be operational in June 2022, is expected to deliver more than 90% of the company’s electricity needs by 2023. These initiatives are part of the company’s larger sustainability road map to reduce its carbon footprint and build a more sustainable future through responsible agriculture and farming, energy, waste, packaging, and emissions.

    “As an agricultural company at heart, we know that sustainability is critical to our future. That’s why it’s important that we make environmental sustainability a core principle of our work, and conserve natural resources to minimize our company’s impact on the environment,” said Derrick Miller, president, POM Wonderful. “As we celebrate the transition to rPET and renewable energy, we continue to look for new ways to minimize our impact, serve as community stewards, and enhance sustainability across every part of our business.”

    In 2020, POM Wonderful launched an innovation challenge, offering $1 million in funding and development resources to innovators who could develop an economical and environmentally friendly pilot-ready solution for the 50,000 tons of pomegranate husks generated each year by the company. In 2021, two winners were announced: BCD Bioscience and Enagon. As a direct result of this funding, BCD Bioscience is discovering ways to harness new value from pomegranate husks, and Enagon is working on upcycling the husks to transform them into new and nutritious ingredients.

    To date, The Wonderful Company and owners Stewart and Lynda Resnick have invested more than $1.3 billion in environmental sustainability initiatives to help fight climate change. This billion-dollar commitment includes the unprecedented $750 million gift from the Resnicks to Caltech in support of the school’s environmental sustainability research.

    In 2019, The Wonderful Company joined RE100, a global initiative made up of some of the world’s biggest companies, which have all committed to using 100% renewable energy. The POM solar farm joins solar installations at Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds facilities, JUSTIN Vineyards, and Wonderful Halos as a part of this journey toward a more sustainable future.

    For more information, and for the latest updates on POM Wonderful, please visit POMWonderful.com or @POMWonderful on Instagram.

    About POM Wonderful

    POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California pomegranates and pomegranate-based products including our 100% pomegranate juices, healthy juice blends, and teas. We grow, handpick, and juice our own pomegranates to ensure the highest quality. POM Wonderful is part of The Wonderful Company, a privately held company with a portfolio that includes other No. 1 brands such as Wonderful® Pistachios, FIJI® Water, Wonderful® Halos®, JUSTIN® wine, and Teleflora®. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, visit www.wonderful.com.

  • Fruit World Reports High Quality, But Lower Volume, For Early Season Central Valley Stone Fruit

    Fruit World, a family-owned, values-driven grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit, has been harvesting and shipping delicious organic apricots and cherries since mid-April from their Central Valley orchards. “The March freeze tempered early stone fruit production volumes throughout California, especially compared to the banner year we had in 2021,” explained CJ Buxman, Fruit World co-founder. “Fortunately, the fruit that set is looking good, and all our ranches are yielding great product.”

    Severe weather events this spring impacted California’s cherry crops substantially. “We have been extremely fortunate that our organic cherries from the Patterson area were eleven days earlier than last year and had exceptional quality and a larger peak size. We will finish shipping our cherries by the end of next week with Corals, Brooks and Tulares,” said Fruit World Director of Sales, Cindy Richter.

    As a family operation that is focused on quality and sustainability, Fruit World continues to expand their use of cardboard punnet clamshells. “We have found many of the consumers who are seeking premium fruit, especially organic varieties, are also seeking out more sustainable packaging options,” reveals Bianca Kaprielian, Fruit World co-founder and CEO.

    Grower partnerships have been key to Fruit World’s growth and success. “We are fortunate to have formed long-term relationships with several growers who share our values, dedication to farming, and approach to business,” Kaprielian said. “Blossom Hill’s apricots and Masumoto Family Farm’s peaches and nectarines allow us to provide more varieties, higher volumes and longer seasons of top-notch fruit. They are seamless brand extensions, and fully integrated into the Fruit World family.”

    “No farmer works alone. We depend on partners like organisms in the living soil, good neighbors, talented farm workers, to name a few,” said Nikiko Masumoto, fourth-generation farmer and artist. “Fruit World is one of our loyal partners. We get to focus on what we do best in the fields and Fruit World helps us find a home for our fruit. We couldn’t do it without them!”

    Today’s consumers are thoughtful about the environment and sustainability, and appreciate high-quality fruit packed with flavor. Delight them with extraordinary organic cherries, apricots, peaches and nectarines, all grown by family farms, and available from Fruit World.

    For more information or to place an order, call (559) 650-0334, or visit fruitworldco.com to learn more about the Fruit World story.

  • Hundreds of Thousands of Prime CA Farmland Acreage Fallowed this Year Due to Drought

    Farmers and other California residents have been pushing legislature for many years to increase our state’s water storage capacity with no success, and with the “years of plenty” long past, hundreds of thousands of acres of prime farmland will go fallow this year. This will have devastating impacts on our nation’s food supply, local communities and the many families that traditionally worked these fields that will be left uncultivated. Watch this brief interview with Adam Borchard from the California Fresh Fruit Association as he addresses the current situation.

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