California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: California Fresh Fruit Magazine

  • 2020 Raisin & Prune Crop Report & Average Prices

    Information contained in this report was supplied by handlers of raisins and prunes to fulfill reporting requirements of Sections 55601.7 and 55601.8 of the Food and Agricultural Code. The report includes all tonnages of raisins and prunes that were either produced by the handler or purchased from producers. The final weighted average price, including bonuses and allowances, has been reported for all contracts which were finalized.

    All 2020 crop transactions completed through the close of business on August 31, 2021 are included in this report. A “good faith” estimate of final weighted average price was reported for those contracts which were not final on the same date. The data are shown by major varieties at the State level only.

    SUMMARY OF RAISIN HANDLERS’ REPORTS

    Free raisin tonnage produced by handlers in 2020 totaled 26,094 tons. This figure does NOT include raisins purchased from other handlers or producers.

    The total 2020 raisin crop purchased from producers, for whom pricing had been finalized, reached 110,853 tons at an average price of $1,302 per ton. This price is rounded to the nearest dollar per ton and includes all bonuses and allowances.

    Purchases from producers, for whom pricing was NOT finalized, totaled 105,480 tons. The average “good faith” estimate of the final weighted average price for this tonnage was $1,075 per ton.

    The quantity of all raisins purchased from producers was 216,334 tons for the 2020 crop. This figure does not include raisins produced by the handler or purchased from other handlers.

    The tonnage produced by the handler plus tonnage purchased from producers for the 2020 raisin crop was 242,427 tons.

    SUMMARY OF PRUNE HANDLERS’ REPORTS

    Prunes produced by handlers in 2020 totaled 9,170 tons. This figure does NOT include prunes purchased from other handlers or producers.

    The total 2020 prune crop purchased from producers, for whom pricing had been finalized, reached 22,351 tons at an average price of $1,834 per ton. This price is rounded to the nearest dollar per ton and includes all bonuses and allowances.

    Purchases from producers, for whom pricing was NOT finalized, totaled 27,182 tons. The average “good faith” estimate of the final weighted average price for this tonnage was $1,898 per ton.

    The quantity of all prunes purchased from producers was 49,533 tons for the 2020 crop. This figure does not include prunes produced by the handler or purchased from other handlers. The weighted average size count of tons purchased from producers was 56 for the French varieties and 66 for the Non-French varieties. 

    The tonnage produced by the handler plus tonnage purchased from producers for the 2020 prune crop was 57,225 tons of French prunes and 1,478 tons of Non-French prunes for a total of 58,703 tons.

    DEFINITIONS

    Producer: A person or operator who is responsible for the raisins or prunes in the unprocessed state. A dehydrator operator is considered the producer of raisins or prunes if they grew or purchased fresh grapes or prunes and dehydrated them.

    Handler: Firm that processes and markets raisins or prunes.

    Finalized Purchases: Tonnage purchased from producers, for which a pricing contract has been completed.

    Non-Finalized Purchases: Contracted tonnage, for which a final price has not yet been determined.

    Free Tonnage: Tonnage received by a handler, for which the only Federal marketing order regulation is a minimum quality or size standard. Reserve tonnage is the tonnage set aside as authorized by a Federal marketing order.

    Weighted Average Price: Weighted average price reflects prices or “good faith” estimates of prices as reported by handlers and include any bonuses or allowances.

  • California Avocado Growers Encouraged To Vote In CAC General Election

    The deadline to vote in the California Avocado Commission General Election is fast approaching — October 27, 2021. Election ballots were mailed to commercial producers and all handlers of record in late September and must be returned to the California Department of Food and Agriculture in the postage paid envelope by the deadline. The results of the election will be announced on November 18.

    The elections will be for one producer member seat and one producer alternate seat in each of the five CAC districts, as well as one handler member seat and one handler alternate seat. A complete list of candidates can be found on the CAC General Election 2021 webpage.

    The 2021 General Election ballots will again use the ranked voting method, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of their preference. The candidate who receives the highest number of first choice votes will be offered their choice of available seats while the candidate with the highest combined total of first and second choice votes will then be offered the available seat.

    California avocado growers are highly encouraged to take part in the 2021 General Election. Please contact April Aymami at aaymami@avocado.org or 949.341.1955 if you did not receive a ballot.

  • University of Florida Researchers Publish Award-Winning Findings on Grove Design to Produce Oranges Under HLB

    University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences —The American Society for Horticultural Science recently honored University of Florida scientists for new guidelines citrus growers may apply to their operations. The researchers study ‘Valencia’ orange production while trees are under the most serious citrus disease worldwide.

    “The 7-year study broke new ground on data we provide to local citrus growers who remain in business despite huanglongbing, or HLB,” said Ronald D. Cave, Director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science’s Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce (UF/IFAS-IRREC).

    A few of the findings citrus growers may employ immediately from the study are:

    • High-density plantings produce more fruit—from 86% up to 300% more than trees not planted in high-density configurations under HLB.

    • The study showed that advanced management practices that included high tree density, fertigation, and drip irrigation led to higher fruit yield.

    • Additional research is needed to determine optimal fertilization rates for high-density sweet orange orchards under HLB-endemic conditions

    The award-winning publication, “Sweet Orange Orchard Architecture Design, Fertilizer, and Irrigation Management Strategies under Huanglongbing-endemic Conditions in the Indian River Citrus District,” appears in the December 2020 issue science of the scientific journal HortScience. The paper describes the scientists’ hypothesis, the entire research procedure, outcomes, and recommendations for further research.

    Members of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Fruit Publication Selection Committee wrote about the paper’s significance. “Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening, affects all citrus cultivars and causes serious tree decline. It is currently a major threat to the citrus industry. The results can influence the whole citrus industry to deal with HLB including orchard architecture design, fertilizer, and irrigation management strategies.”

    Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi and his colleagues conducted experiments to determine the variables that promote healthy fresh fruit harvests with the presence of HLB. Ferrarezi, along with fellow professors Mark Ritenour and Alan Wright, accepted the “Outstanding Fruit Publication Award” for papers published in 2020 at the ASHS annual meeting awards ceremony in Denver, Colorado, Aug. 6. Ferrarezi is an Assistant Professor of Citrus Horticulture; Ritenour, Professor of Postharvest Technology; Wright, Professor of Soil and Water Science.

    Others who contributed to the research and the award-winning publication are Arun D. Jani, a post-doctoral research assistant; Thomas James III, who manages citrus research groves; and Cristina Gil, an agricultural research assistant.

    “We strive to keep citrus growers in business even though HLB is reducing the profitability of infected trees over time,” said Ferrarezi. “The point is to sustain younger trees for a number of harvests to produce the healthy, delicious fruit that made the Indian River District famous.”

  • Citrus Growers Join Researchers for Field Day of Emerging Answers

    University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences — More than 50 citrus growers and researchers attended a field day to view 154 new citrus scion-rootstock combinations—some of which will result in the production of market-ready fruit from trees that tolerate the most serious citrus disease worldwide.

    The disease is called citrus greening. It has reduced Florida citrus production to about half of what it was when 950,000 acres were under citrus production. Most researchers and growers agree that new scion and rootstock combinations hold a lot of possibility to preserve Florida’s signature crop.

    The Millennium Block Drive-Thru Field Day 2021 took place on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 14, at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science’s Indian River Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS-IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida.

    IRREC researchers guided attendees from information tents positioned at strategic points among 20 acres of carefully managed rows of grapefruit, orange, pummelo, and mandarin trees. Each plot of a scion-rootstock combination was labeled and corresponded to a 12-page packet Ronald Cave and researchers presented to visitors upon arrival. Cave is professor and director of IRREC, and he leads the citrus research project, along with manager Tom James, graduate student Martin Zapien, and agricultural assistant Mac Hossain.

    “Our mission for the Millennium Block’s rootstock and scion trials is primarily to provide guidance to growers on the UFR rootstocks. There is also a secondary purpose to evaluate grapefruit and grapefruit-like hybrids,” said Cave. “No other trial like this is happening anywhere, but we need additional funding to continue with the trial until the trees are seven years of age.”

    University officials and staff guided visitors to specific trees where growers left their vehicles to observe trees up close.

    “The Millennium Block research project is taking the industry’s best scions and rootstocks and mixing and matching them to provide the industry with a brighter future, and some of the matches look promising,” said Doug Bournique, executive vice president of the Indian River Citrus League.

    Jeanna Mastrodicasa, UF/IFAS Associate Vice President for Operations, led the event at booth #2. She fanned through the pages of the packet Cave gave her and noted the colored rows and legends. “Here is a great map and a great key that explains how the coding works and which rootstock appears where in the grove,” said Mastrodicasa.

    In a row of grapefruit trees across from Mastrodicasa, IRREC Advisory Committee member Pete Spyke pointed to six trees of the same rootstocks. Spyke is a heritage Florida citrus grower who owns Arapaho Citrus Management in Fort Pierce, Florida. He lifted bunches of yellow grapefruit with pink blush from the 2-year-old trees. “Ray ruby grapefruit on UFR-15 rootstock shows the kind of thing we are after in the Millennium Block trials. It’s a very nice fruit—very high quality—excellent performance for a young tree,” said Spyke.  “The tree has two blooms, a regular bloom and a late bloom. We will capture data from both blooms.”

    At a second location, where white grapefruit trees grow, Chris Hernandez showed an attendee a tree that produces sweet grapefruit. Hernandez is a UF horticulture undergraduate student and an agricultural assistant at IRREC.

    “My favorite grapefruit is Seedless Surprise. The variety is super sweet, the best flavor in a grapefruit I have experienced. And the trees tolerate citrus greening well,”Hernandez said.

    At another grove position, viewers gathered around Ken Gioeli, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County Natural Resources Agent, to learn about invasive, venomous, and harmless snakes that may be found in the grove. Gioeli recommends growers to be aware of four venomous snakes found in the Indian River District and how they can increase safety. He urged visitors to report Burmese pythons with a mobile application, I’veGot1.

    Several longtime citrus growers were surprised to find some varieties in a condition they did not expect.

    “There are some variations in the rootstocks,” said Matt Hamilton. He, along with his family, own Hamilton Grove Services, Inc., in St. Lucie County. “I am surprised that some of the rootstocks I expected would do well are not looking too good, but a few of the UF rootstocks look good.”

    “Our family has been in the business since the 1960s,” said Mark Hamilton. “We are grapefruit growers, and we want to stay in business.”

    Growers recall many of the Indian River District’s citrus production challenges. Freezes, insects, and diseases have caused setbacks and the scion rootstock combinations may bring a comeback.

    “We need to make sure the trends we see today are consistent as time goes on. Next year’s data should be much more enlightening,” said Spyke.

    “The approach we are taking to breeding is to find tolerant scions and rootstocks that impart tolerance to the scion. Those combinations will be less expensive to grow and will produce larger crops of good wholesome fruit and those two factors will allow growers to make a good profit in the future. The data will be applicable to any variety growing anywhere in the state, including processed fruit.”

  • Expanding Global Markets for Mexican Avocado Production

    Mexico avocado production for marketing year 2021/22 is forecasted eight percent lower than the record production observed the previous marketing year. While production will remain strong, growers expect trees will need to recover for a season. High international demand and attractive global prices has encouraged producers to export product for higher returns. And while Michoacán is the only state with phytosanitary certification to export to the United States, exports to other global markets are expected to increase in the coming years.

    PRODUCTION

    The Post forecast for MY 2021/22 (July/June) avocado production is 2.33 million metric tons (MMT), eight percent lower than in the previous MY on reduced tree productivity. Grower’s state that they are expecting needed tree recovery after record productivity and production (especially in Michoacán) in the MY 2020/21 season. Additionally, insufficient rainfall and high temperatures are likely to reduce production and yields in non-Michoacan producing states. Planted and harvested areas are forecasted at 227,126 hectares (ha) and 225,910 ha respectively, with a national yield of 10.30 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha). Harvest reaches peak from October to February, with average supply from March to May, and low season from June to September.

    Mexico is the largest avocado producer in the world, accounting for 30 percent of global production. Planted area is steadily increasing year over year, at an annual growth rate of three percent, mainly due to high profitability and increased international demand. Mexico produces three varieties of avocado, with Hass accounting for 97 percent of total production and Criollo and Fuerte accounting for the remaining three percent.

    Michoacán is the top producing state in Mexico, with 75 percent of national production and 81 percent of total production value. Michoacán is also the only state with phytosanitary certification to export supplies to the United States. According to the Association of Avocado Producers and Packers and Exporters of Mexico (APEAM), there are more than 29,000 registered producers in the state (with small orchards of five to ten ha) with year-round production through four harvests. The first -and most productive- harvest of MY 2021/22 is forecasted 36 percent lower than the previous MY. The main avocado-producing municipalities are Peribán, Los Reyes, Uruapan and Tancítaro. Michoacan’s production forecast for MY 2021/22 is 1.78 MMT, nine percent lower than the previous MY, with planted area forecasted at 167,401 ha, and yields forecasted at 10.64 MT/ha. Approximately 63 percent of the states orchards are rain fed, and the remaining are equipped with drip or sprinkler irrigation systems.

    Jalisco is the second largest avocado producing state with more than 250,000 tons produced year-round from 3,100 producers (medium sized production of 10 ha or more, and 50 percent of total area among 15 to 20 growers). MY 2021/22 planted area is forecasted at 21,414 ha, two percent higher than the previous MY. Jalisco has 12,000 ha that are five years old or less among its 75 growing municipalities. Eighty-five percent of orchards are irrigated with either drip or micro-sprinklers, and planting is high density and sophisticated with technological advances like drone usage to monitor crop advancement and health.

    CONSUMPTION

    Most fresh domestic consumption is supplied from the states of Mexico, Nayarit, and Morelos. Domestic consumption for MY 2021/22 is forecast at 1.1 MMT. According to SIAP, annual per capita consumption is seven kilograms (approximately 15 pounds) per person. While a staple in Mexican cuisine, avocado consumption has not grown in recent years because of high prices driven by increased international demand. 

    Avocado has a wide range of uses as an industrialized product, including as a base for spreads, and oil production for cosmetic products. Avocado oil production from Hass and Fuerte varieties has increased in recent years. Read the full report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service HERE.

  • Blueberries Around the Globe – Past, Present, and Future

    USDA International Agricultural Trade Report — Trade and production of blueberries is expanding globally as product development boosts their profile in form and function. Hailed for their flavor, versatility, and health benefits, blueberry consumption has expanded beyond fresh, ranging from pureed to powdered forms. Blueberries are also being used as ingredients and additives in foods and beverages. These new uses and forms of blueberries are combining with increasing fresh consumption to drive up production worldwide. Global production and trade have seen the most dramatic growth between 2010 and 2019, driven ever higher by mounting consumer demand.

    Domestication of Blueberries: From Idea to Industry

    The development of cultivated blueberries began in the early 1900s through the collaboration of Elizabeth White and USDA botanist Frederick Coville. Living on a cranberry farm in New Jersey,  White started conducting her own research into wild highbush blueberry plants in the 1890s. Coville began his research on cultivating wild blueberries in 1908. After they began corresponding, White eventually invited Coville to work with her on her family farm. They become business partners in 1911, harvesting and selling their first commercial crop of blueberries in 1916.

    Since then, commercial blueberry production has expanded in the United States and to every continent except Antarctica. Enabled by advances in genetics and production practices, blueberries were grown in at least 30 countries in 2019 and in a variety of climates. The major classes of blueberry plants now grown commercially are highbush, lowbush (sometimes referred to as wild), half-high (a cross between highbush and lowbush species), Rabbiteye, and Southern highbush. Plant production can be short or long-lived, with some cultivar plants productive for as little as 1-5 years or as long as 40-60 years.

    Global Production

    Global production more than doubled between 2010 and 2019, rising from 439,000 metric tons to nearly 1.0 million. During this time, the number of countries with reportable production expanded from 26 to at least 30, with 27 countries showing growth. In 2010, only 4 countries produced more than 10,000 tons:  the United States (224,000 tons), Canada (84,000 tons), Chile (76,000 tons), and France (11,000 tons). The number of countries producing at least 10,000 tons started increasing by 2012 and has not declined since then. By 2019, at least 11 countries were above the 10,000-ton threshold. Peru had the most dramatic expansion, rising from less than 50 tons to nearly 125,000 to become the fourth-largest producer behind the United States, Canada, and Chile. Peru is now the world’s leading exporter by value.

    Southern Hemisphere countries account for nearly 40 percent of the world’s production growth during this time, reaching close to 300,000 tons in 2019. The spread of production to the Southern Hemisphere has expanded blueberries’ seasonal market presence to all 12 months of the year, boosting availability for consumers and driving worldwide demand.

    In the United States, blueberries are the second-most produced berry. Until the early 1970s, they were commercially grown mostly in three states:  New Jersey, Michigan, and North Carolina. The industry worked to develop production in other states. In the 1990s, U.S. production reached 100 million pounds or more than 45,000 tons. In 2010, Michigan was the largest producer at almost 50,000 tons, accounting for 22 percent of U.S. production. Other states were expanding output, with Washington becoming the top grower in 2015. Washington remains the leading producer averaging 58,000 tons per year and 19 percent of U.S. production, while Oregon is a close second averaging 55,000 tons. The number of states that USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service includes in its annual survey was reduced from 14 states to 9 states in 2018 (the other 5 states accounting for less than 5 percent of production). However, production has continued to rise, reaching a record 339,000 tons in 2019. U.S. production has averaged nearly 300,000 tons since 2015, accounting for 36 percent of global production.

    Global Exports

    The World Customs Organization (WCO) publishes the International Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System or HS), a “multipurpose international product nomenclature” that is a hierarchical framework consisting of 4- and 6-digit classification codes (referred to as headings and subheadings, respectively). Currently, blueberries do not have their own 6-digit classification code. Under the HS, they are classified and harmonized in HS-6 codes that group them with other fruits of the genus Vaccinium (including cranberries), making it difficult to get an accurate understanding of actual blueberry trade. (See section below “Working Towards Better Trade Data.”) By using data from the U.S. Census, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and industry as a guide, leading fresh blueberry exporters include Peru, Chile, Mexico, the United States, South Africa, Poland, and Canada.

    Though the value of fresh blueberry export trade is not known for all exporting countries, looking at these countries gives a good indication of the export situation. Using U.S. Census Bureau, Trade Data Monitor, and country data provided by FAS’s overseas offices, exports for these countries totaled $2.1 billion in 2019. For these seven countries, combined growth has averaged 18 percent annually since 2016, with Peru, Mexico, Poland, and South Africa seeing continuous growth. If exports average only 5 percent growth during the next 5 years, export value for these countries alone will reach nearly $3.0 billion by 2025. According to FAO data, global export volume has not declined since at least 2010, rising on average 46,000 tons per year between 2015 and 2019. Considering the expansion in production and exports since 2010 and the continued rise in consumer demand, exports of fresh blueberries are expected to continue their upward trajectory.

    Growth has been more moderate for U.S. exports. While the export value of fresh blueberries has grown 30 percent between 2010 and 2019, exports experienced 4 straight years of decline between 2014-2017, some of which coincided with years of lower output. On either side of that timespan, exports had peaked at $147 million in 2013 and have seen continuous growth since 2017, rising from $107 million to nearly $121 million in 2020. For 2021, January-July exports are slightly ahead of last year, up $3 million to nearly $99 million. On average, more than 80 percent of U.S. shipments go to Canada, valued at more than $106 million in 2020. Among the seven leading exporters, the United States ranks fourth behind Peru, Chile, and Mexico.

    The Future of Global Production

    Research into varieties no longer relies on public institutions but is now also happening in private industry, resulting in more rapid advances in genetics and varietal development. Research is underway to improve yield, berry quality, disease and pest resistance, and cold and heat resistance. Improvements are also happening in technology to better manage, harvest, and package crops. For example, due to its range of required chill hours (from 400 to 0 hours), Southern highbush cultivars can be grown as an evergreen, a system of managing bushes to produce berries year-round or at specific points in time. Depending on the geographic area, “evergreening” can prevent or manage defoliation through timing and severity of pruning. While prevention enables year-round production, managed defoliation allows growers to control or target when berries will be ripe, and therefore when they can be harvested. For managed defoliation, depending on the cultivar, the time period between pruning and harvest ranges from 5 to 8 months. For example, if aiming for a May harvest, bushes would be trimmed in January. While evergreen production is used in some areas of the United States, it has also allowed the spread of blueberry production to areas with warmer climates such as Australia, Mexico, Peru, and Spain.

    Current blueberry varieties are all within genus Vaccinium and section Cyanococcus. However, wild varieties outside Cyanococcus are known to exist around the world, including in more isolated areas such as islands in the South Pacific. With the success of blueberries, some of these countries are starting to cultivate their wild varieties. The current level of science does not yet easily allow the combining of genetics from Cyanococcus and non-Cyanococcus varieties. Expected advances in genetic technology will likely make this possible in the coming decades, leading to the development of new varieties and further spreading blueberry production.

    Working Towards Better Trade Data

    As noted above, blueberries are included in HS-6 codes that group blueberries with other fruits of the genus Vaccinium, such as cranberries and bilberries. Under the HS, blueberries are currently classified and harmonized globally at the HS-6 level subheadings of 0810.40 (fresh), 0811.90 (frozen), and 0813.40 (dried). Monitoring blueberry trade is challenging because only some countries break out blueberries beyond the HS-6 level as the United States does for fresh, frozen, and dried.

    Due to the considerable growth in global blueberry production and trade in the past 10 years, especially trade in fresh blueberries, FAS has prepared a proposal to submit to the WCO to amend the HS by creating specific subheadings for fresh, frozen, and dried blueberries, thereby distinguishing them from other Vaccinium fruit. Proposals for amendments to the HS are typically submitted by the industry. However, due to the need for global trade data, FAS has undertaken this effort to provide clarity on trade (and thus production) and achieve a more precise understanding of how large the market is and where trade (and thus production) is happening.

    The following are the steps for submission, review, and approval for amendments to the HS:

    1. Proposal is submitted to U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) – if approved, USITC submits the proposal to the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC).
    2. TPSC approval – if approved, USITC submits the proposal to the World Customs Organization HS Review Sub-Committee (WCO HS RSC) as an agenda item for their next meeting.
      Note:  TPSC is an interagency committee that includes representatives from USITC, USDA/FAS, the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection.
    3. WCO HS RSC approval – if approved, the WCO HS RSC submits the proposal to the WCO HS Committee (HSC) for review at their next meeting.
    4. WCO HSC approval – if approved, the proposal is forwarded to the WCO for adoption.
    5. WCO adoption – if adopted, the proposed coding changes will be reflected in the next iteration of the HS, which means it will also be reflected in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

    FAS submitted a proposal to USITC in September 2021. If it successfully proceeds through the above process, the proposed changes will be reflected in the 2027 HS. Though it will be several years before the changes are implemented, ultimately the changes will significantly improve our ability to understand and forecast blueberry trade.

  • Leslie Wada Named USHBC’s First-Ever Senior Director of Nutrition and Health Research

    The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) recently announced the appointment of Leslie Wada, Ph.D., RD, as senior director of nutrition and health research. A longtime consultant for the council, Wada will continue to manage USHBC’s multi-million dollar pipeline of health research projects as she has for the past 12 years. In her expanded role, Wada will have increased ownership and responsibility in leading the health and nutrition pillar of the USHBC’s 2021-2025 strategic plan, integrating the research projects and results with the council’s overall strategy in marketing and promotions.

    A registered dietitian with an undergraduate degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of California, Davis, Wada earned a Ph.D. in nutritional sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked as a research scientist on nutrition studies and taught classes in dietetics at UC Berkeley before leaving academia to work with companies that developed functional foods and ingredients. For the past 20+ years, she has worked as an independent consultant for companies in the food and agriculture industry.

    To hear Wada tell the story of the heart-healthy properties of blueberries, check out this podcast episode of “The Business of Blueberries” from earlier in the year.

  • Celebrating Prune Growers for California Farmer and Farmworker Month

    October is California Farmer and Farmworker Month, and the California Prune Board is celebrating those within the industry who work so hard to produce the premium fruit that contributes to health and wellbeing.

    “California’s prune growers and orchard workers have worked tirelessly through the pandemic to keep this wholesome fruit on tables and in pantries for families, frontline workers, and food banks,” said Kiaran Locy, California Prune Board, Director of Brand & Industry Communications, and Buy California Marketing Agreement board member. “While many Americans were sheltering in place and working from home, the California Prune industry worked together with retailers and distributors to ensure a consistent and stable supply of premium fruit.”

    The California Prune industry generates more than $717 million in annual economic impact flowing into the state economy creating and sustaining more than 7,000 full-time equivalent jobs. California’s prune industry is an important economic driver that contributes to the economic health of the communities throughout the state.

    “Choosing California Prunes and other California-grown food, wine, flowers, garden and nursery plants, directly supports and stabilizes our economy,” added Locy. “California is the largest producer of agricultural products in the nation and the largest producer of prunes in the world.”

    California Prune growers steward 43,000 acres of land. Generations of growers across the Sacramento and
    San Joaquin Valleys have brought a craftsmanship to cultivating their trees with the best orchard management practices. The California Prune industry has invested millions of dollars in agriculture and sustainability research that conserves energy, reduces water use, and improves the safety and quality of prune production while ensuring longevity for the industry.

    Growing a healthy food takes dedication and California’s prune growers and orchard workers are part of the vital network of producers that provide nutritious school meals and pantry-stable wholesome fruits for the most vulnerable of our population. Each year California Prunes works with USDA to secure prune purchases for school nutrition programs and food banks which also helps support the livelihood of prune-growing communities.

    As prune growers and orchard workers are an invaluable part of California’s ag community, the California Prune Board celebrates October California Farmer and Farmworker Month by spotlighting a series of meet-the-grower profiles, sharing videos on “What Makes California a Great Place to Grow Prunes” and “How I Got Into Agriculture,” alongside heritage recipes from grower families. The California Prune Board is further sharing these stories on social media channels throughout the month of October in partnership with #CAGROWN to honor the grower and orchard workers’ contributions and dedication to ensuring a safe food supply, even under the most daunting of circumstances.

    Always in season, California Prunes are good for your gut, heart, and bones. With under 100 calories per serving this fruit has no added sugar and packs a powerful punch of important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that support overall health and wellbeing.

    California Prune fans can access heritage recipes from grower families by visiting:https://californiaprunes.org/california-prunes-101/our-growers/ and follow @CAPrunes on Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest, YouTube, and Twitter.

    Mitchell Family Prune Cake
    What’s a prune farmer’s favorite way to eat prunes? Well, for the Mitchell family of Yuba City, Calif., the choice is easy: this old-fashioned prune cake recipe takes the (ahem) cake. A soft, prune-studded spice cake is covered in a buttery-sweet glaze that has everyone going back for another slice (or two.)

    SERVINGS: 12 pieces PREP TIME: 20 minutes COOK TIME: 1 hour
    INGREDIENTS

    For the cake:

    1 heaping cup California Prunes, minced (28-30 prunes)

    2 cups boiling water

    1 cup neutral baking oil or olive oil

    1 1/2 cups sugar

    1 tablespoon vanilla extract

    3 eggs

    2 cups all-purpose flour (or 2 cups gluten-free flour +
    2 teaspoons xanthan gum)

    1 teaspoon baking soda

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    1 teaspoon nutmeg

    1/2 teaspoon cardamom

    1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

    1 cup buttermilk

    1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

    		  

    For the icing:

    1/4 cup melted butter

    1 cup sugar

    1/2 cup buttermilk

    2 teaspoons molasses

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    1 pinch coarse kosher salt

     

    DIRECTIONS

    Place the minced prunes in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 20 minutes, then drain thoroughly.

    Preheat the oven to 300°F and spray a 13×9 metal or glass baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

    In a large mixing bowl combine the oil, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Whisk to combine.

    In a separate mixing bowl combine the flour (or gluten-free flour + xanthan gum), baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt. Whisk to combine.

    Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture alternating with the buttermilk in 3 additions. Stir to combine. Fold in the drained prunes and walnuts.

    Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45-60 minutes until cooked through and a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

    While the prune cake is baking, make the icing:

    Combine all the ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan. It will seem like the pot is too big, but the sugar mixture needs room to swell up in the pan. Bring to a boil and cook for 4-5 minutes or just before the softball stage.

    While the cake is hot from the oven and still in the pan pour the icing over the cake. Use a fork to gently poke holes all around the top of the cake so that it can absorb the icing. Enjoy the Mitchell family’s Old-Fashioned Prune Cake at your next special occasion!

    Recipe Notes: Sugar in the cake recipe can be substituted for 1/2 cup monk fruit.

  • Agriculturists Jeani and John Ferrari Recognized with CA Farmland Trust’s Vance Kennedy Award

    Local philanthropists and long-time supporters of farmland protection, Jeani and John Ferrari, were honored by California Farmland Trust (CFT) as the 2021 Vance Kennedy Award recipients.

    The Vance Kennedy Award was established in 2014 in honor of Dr. Vance Kennedy, a founding member of CFT, because of his extraordinary contributions and efforts to the organization. Recipients of this prestigious award demonstrate significant commitment and dedication to furthering the protection of farmland in our most valuable regions. The Ferraris are the third recipients to receive the Vance Kennedy Award.

    “Being recognized by California Farmland Trust, an organization we hold in the highest regard, is a meaningful recognition,” John said. “CFT does the work that our region desperately needs, protecting our most important farmland for the long-term. It’s an esteemed award, and Jeani and I are honored.”

    As second-generation growers of sweet potatoes, almonds, walnuts, and peaches, Jeani and John’s passion and dedication to agriculture and farmland protection runs deep through Stanislaus and Merced counties. In addition, the Ferraris almond orchard is home to the first agricultural conservation easement enacted by Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT), now CFT, and Jeani served as a founding CVFT board member.

    Jeani and John exemplify community engagement, spanning from the Farmland Working Group that Jeani spearheads to inform the public about land use policies, to the “new” Turlock and CSU Stanislaus libraries, and the arts including the Carnegie Arts Center. John served on the Emanuel Medical Center’s foundation board and fundraising committees in support of the Cancer Center and Cardiovascular Operating Suites, where his dedication throughout the planning and fundraising process was invaluable.

    “The contributions Jeani and John have made since CFT’s inception and within our communities are extremely worthy of recognition, and the Vance Kennedy Award is especially fitting,” said Charlotte Mitchell, executive director at California Farmland Trust. “We are honored and thankful to work with such amazing community supporters and farmland protection advocates.”

    The California Farmland Trust is a California nonprofit 501(c)(3). Our mission is to help farmers protect the best farmland in the world. To date, we have protected 16,934 acres of farmland on 78 farms. To learn more visit us: www.cafarmtrust.org

  • Top Costly Legal Issues Ag Employers can Prevent

    At the Annual Convention of the Almond Alliance of California, Stacy Henderson, Almond Alliance’s go-to attorney for ag labor law, shared some of the top costly mistakes ag employers should know about that can be prevented. Watch this brief video with Stacy as she explains.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.