California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: California Fresh Fruit Magazine

  • CA Prune Board Addresses Non-Tariff Barriers for Nuts & Dried Fruit

    As the world leader in prune exports, the California Prune Board is preemptively addressing issues that affect the trade of dried fruits and nuts with a three-year project focused on preserving the use of sulfuryl fluoride. With the support of the Foreign Agriculture Services arm of USDA, the California Prune Board (CPB) has secured funding to lead a Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program titled “Preserving sulfuryl fluoride for dried fruit exports to the European Union.”

    “This project hits on all the major non-tariff barriers,” says Gary Obenauf, CPB Production Research Coordinator and lead on the TASC project. “Exports of nuts and dried fruits require reliable measures that ensure consumers around the world are receiving a safe product and this project is paramount in gathering the information needed, enabling California Prunes and other commodities to retain and expand export markets.”

    While the project specifically investigates the voids in residue data associated with the use of sulfuryl fluoride for treating U.S. dried fruit and tree nuts, the research ultimately addresses the stringent criteria to limit emissions for continued and optimal sulfuryl fluoride use in all export markets for a variety of commodities. The study is being conducted by top experts in their fields from Stanford, Yale, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), University of California, and DFA of California.

    “Global trade interest in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions is growing, and we’re getting asked about sulfuryl fluoride use in several markets,” stated Spencer Walse, a research chemist for ARS. “This project provides an opportunity to continue sulfuryl fluoride use globally and preserves the quality of products while maintaining food safety and security. If we don’t protect the use of sulfuryl fluoride, the ability to export to various countries, including the EU, diminishes.”

    With new use patterns that need to be reflected globally, efficacy data is generated for market access into new export opportunities. Many countries, including India and Australia, require residue data to accompany the efficacy data to ensure consumer safety.

    “We studied methyl bromide decades ago and found the use patterns didn’t apply, so we had to adapt for sulfuryl fluoride,” added Obenauf. “This project allows us to update regulatory use patterns which have evolved since we started this work.”

    Phytosanitary techniques are vital to the export industry. The benefits of updating regulatory information through this research and gaining data on sulfuryl fluoride scrubbing extend far past the dried fruit and nut industries and will allow continued use of the gas globally.

    California is the world’s largest producer of prunes providing approximately 40 percent of the world’s supply and over 90 percent of the U.S. supply. Today, there are more than 40,000 bearing acres of California Prune orchards concentrated in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.

  • New Study Indicates High Prune Diet Prevents Bone Loss After Traumatic Injury

    As part of the California Prune industry’s long-time commitment to world-class nutrition research, a new, peer-reviewed animal study shows a diet high in California Prunes completely prevents bone loss associated with spinal cord injury (SCI), while also restoring a fraction of the bone lost after SCI.

    Individuals who suffer spinal cord injury (SCI) are prone to extremely rapid bone loss. This leads to a significant increase in the risk of fractures, osteoporosis, and overall mortality. Results of this New animal study conducted by San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery show California Prunes may be able to help.

    “Healthy bones come from the right exercise and diet,” says Leslie Bonci, registered dietitian and consultant for the California Prune Board. “California Prunes are particularly rich in bone-building minerals. Not only does the fruit provide boron and manganese, but also Vitamin K — another nutrient that is fundamental for bone mineralization.”

    The study finds Prunes, in their Dried Plum version, mitigates Spinal Cord Injury-induced Bone Loss in Mice, was published in the Journal of the Orthopedic Research Society. The research was led by Halloran and Xuhui Liu, M.D., San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UCSF. In a serving of California Prunes, you can find potassium, Vitamin K, manganese, boron, and fiber.

    The researchers conducted two separate experiments. In a prevention experiment, they looked at dietary supplementation with dried plum for mitigating the loss of bone induced by SCI. Then, in a recovery experiment, they examined if a dried plum diet could restore bone lost after SCI.

    “We are seeing an exciting ‘prune effect’ on bones,” said Bernard Halloran, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of California – San Francisco (UCSF). “In a variety of unique research scenarios, prunes are consistently associated with a favorable bone response.”

    The new study findings build on a growing body of research that shows a link between positive bone health response and California Prunes in post-menopausal women, along with research that shows a similar favorable bone response among those exposed to radiation – such as astronauts in space.

    Additional nutrition research studies are now underway adding to the investment in scientifically-sound evidence about the health benefits of prunes. The research pipeline includes the largest clinical trial ever undertaken by the California Prune industry that is looking at how California Prunes influence the microbiota and inflammation reduction, as well as a first-of-its-kind study that is evaluating the impact of California Prunes on the bone health of men. More studies are examining how California Prunes effect the fracture-healing process and the fruit’s impact on the bone health of younger women who are taking oral contraceptives.

    ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD

    Created in 1952, The California Prune Board aims to amplify the premium positioning and top-of-mind awareness of California Prunes through advertising, public relations, promotion, nutrition research, crop management and sustainability research, and issues management. The California Prune Board represents approximately 800 prune growers and 28 prune, juice, and ingredient handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

  • How to Prevent Crown Gall in the Orchard



    Keep getting crown gall in the orchard? Watch this brief interview with Kern County Area Orchard Systems Advisor Mohammad Yaghmour as shares a few simple steps on how to effectively prevent this detrimental infection.  Read more in Pacific Nut Producer and California Fresh Fruit Magazines.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • ITC Deems Foreign Imported Blueberries Not a Threat to Domestic Production

    The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that fresh, chilled or frozen blueberries are not being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or the threat of serious injury, to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported article. The determination was made in the context of an investigation initiated on September 29, 2020, under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. § 2252) at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative. Information about this investigation and global safeguard investigations in general can be found here.

    The Commission’s determination resulted from a 5-0 vote. Chair Jason E. Kearns, Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin, and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the negative. As a result of today’s vote, the investigation will end, and the Commission will not recommend a remedy to President Joe Biden. The Commission will submit its report containing its injury determination and the basis for it to the president by March 29, 2021.

    The American Blueberry Growers Alliance (ABGA) released the following statement regarding the outcome of the ITC’s global safeguard investigation into imports of fresh, chilled or frozen blueberries:

    “The American Blueberry Growers Alliance (ABGA) is disappointed with the decision today by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to find that rising imports of foreign-grown blueberries are not a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat of serious injury, to domestic farmers. We disagree with the outcome of the Commissioner’s investigation.

    Throughout this case, blueberry growers across the United States provided the ITC with extensive data and personal experiences about the significant harm caused by surging imports on the supply and pricing of blueberries in the U.S. market, especially during our critical growing and harvest seasons. We believed this data and testimony made a compelling case that safeguard measures were critical to the survival of our domestic farmers, and we are disappointed by the Commission’s decision.

    We actively participated in this investigation because we believe U.S. trade laws must support a level playing field for American farmers – one in which lower labor costs and more lax environmental standards in other countries does not drive our domestic growers out of business. The outcome of this investigation reveals deficiencies in U.S. trade laws, which unfortunately will put the long-term viability of the domestic blueberry industry in jeopardy.

    We have received strong support from members of Congress, state elected officials, agricultural associations and other farm interests throughout this investigation, and we plan to work with these groups on other remedies to ensure that American consumers continue to have access to fresh, high-quality, safe, domestically grown blueberries.

    Meanwhile, our domestic growers will face another year of economic uncertainty as they grow and harvest their 2021 blueberry crop. No doubt, imports will now accelerate to overwhelm our domestic market this year. This will cause even greater hardship on family-owned farm operations, as well as on providers of packing and freezing services, and damage to local communities and tax bases.”

  • Monitoring Stem Water Potential in Citrus (Case Studies)

    Reliable and valid information about plant water status is a critical input variable for optimizing citrus orchard growth. Precisely managing citrus water stress during all phenological stages enables maximized production by: avoiding drought stress during flowering and fruit sets; achieving appropriate sugar levels; and maintaining fruit quality by, for example, avoiding peel creasing for example.

    Controlled water status can best be precisely achieved by monitoring the Stem-Water Potential (SWP) values regularly. After five  successful years of experimentation and development, Saturas’ StemsenseTM sensors were installed in mature commercial citrus orchards around the world, and at the leading research phytotron in Israel.

    This paper provides a brief overview of three commercial case studies in China, Spain and Israel and results from the experimental phtotron in Israel.

    China layout

    Three  Saturas StemsenseTM sensors were installed in an OR (Clementine) citrus orchard in the Hongjing farm, China. The StemsenseTM sensors were installed randomly in the orchard to represent the whole orchard status. The StemsensTM sensors measured daily mid-day SWP values.

    Results and conclusions

    Figure 1 illustrates seasonal values of Saturas StemsenseTM mid-day  SWP values, daily ET0 and irrigation volume. Of note, is the positive and significant response to irrigation and changes in evapotranspiration. Note, for example,  the rain stoppage from Aug 23th  to Aug 30th, as reflected by the gradually increasing SWP values.

    Figure 1 – Seasonal values of Saturas’ StemsenseTM Mid-Day SWP values, daily ET0 and irrigation volume.

    Spain layout

    Five Saturas StemsenseTM sensors were installed in a lemon orchard in the Velcarda farm, Spain.

    The StemsenseTM sensors were installed randomly in the orchard to represent the whole orchard status. The StemsenseTM sensors measured daily mid-day SWP values.

    Results and conclusions

    Figure 2 illustrates seasonal values of Saturas StemsenseTM mid-day  SWP values, daily ET0 and irrigation volume. The Saturas StemsenseTM sensors showed a highly correlative response to irrigation and changes in evapotranspiration Note, for example, the increase in SWP values during late July- early Aug, the influence of the small irrigation on Aug 2nd, and the response of the trees to the regular irrigation started on Aug 13th.

    Figure 2 – Seasonal values of Saturas’ StemsenseTM Mid-Day SWP values, daily ET0 and irrigation volume.

    Israel –  layout

    Six Saturas StemsensTM sensors were installed in a Michal (Clementine) citrus orchard in the Gvaot HaHoresh farm, Israel. The StemsenseTM sensors were installed randomly in the orchard to represent the whole orchard status. The StemsensTM sensors measured daily mid-day SWP values.

    Results and conclusions

    Figure 3 illustrates the seasonal values of Saturas StemsenseTM mid-day SWP values, manual pressure chamber measurements, daily ET0 and irrigation volumes. The sensors showed highly correlative response to irrigation and changes in evapotranspiration, and a positive correlation to manual pressure chamber measurements.

    Figure 3 – Seasonal values of Saturas StemsenseTM Mid-Day SWP values, manual pressure chamber measurements, daily ET0, and irrigation volume.

    Phytotron –  layout

    Six Saturas StemsenseTM sensors were installed in lemon trees grown in a controlled growing room in Saturas’ experimental facility in Israel.
    This facility enables us to broaden our knowledge on sensor performance In a controlled environment. Saturas always tests new designs in the phytotron to validate the performance of the sensors. After finding for reliability, internal validity and replicability, Saturas installs a representative number of units in the experimental outdoor plot to  monitor, analyze and evaluate the performance of the sensors in outdoor conditions. This stage contains both drought trials and frequent manual pressure chamber measurements.

    Figure 4 illustrates the seasonal values of StemsenseTM mid-day SWP values, manual pressure chamber measurements and irrigation volume. The trees were irrigated weekly to examine the changes in SWP  values, and the response time and correlation to manual pressure chamber measurements.

    Results and conclusions

    Saturas StemsenseTM sensors showed a very rapid response to irrigation and a positive and significant correlation to manual pressure chamber measurements.

    Figure 4 – Seasonal values of Saturas StemsenseTM Mid-Day SWP values, manual pressure chamber measurements,and irrigation amounts.

    Conclusions

    The StemSenseTM sensors, in these four case studies, demonstrated high measures of correlation to environmental stimuli such as ET, precipitation and irrigation while delivering reliable and valid SWP values over time. The commercial utility of StemSense sensors is mutli-layered. The specific result of these studies demonstrates that the Saturas StemSenseTM sensors contributes reliable and valid information to the grower, critical for making good decisions for scheduling irrigation.
    In addition, the experimental and commerical aplications demonstrated a high correlation to manual pressure chamber measurements. Replicability of experimental outcomes has allowed Saturas to expand into the apple, avocado, cherry, almond, kiwi, vine markets.  For more information visit Saturas Ag.

  • Novel Treatment Causes Killer Citrus Disease to Leak & Die

    New research affirms a unique peptide found in an Australian plant can destroy the No. 1 killer of citrus trees worldwide and help prevent infection. Huanglongbing, HLB, or citrus greening has multiple names, but one ultimate result: bitter and worthless citrus fruits. It has wiped out citrus orchards across the globe, causing billions in annual production losses.

    Untreated citrus plants on the left, as compared to treated ones on the right. (Hailing Jin/UCR)

    All commercially important citrus varieties are susceptible to it, and there is no effective tool to treat HLB-positive trees, or to prevent new infections. However, new UC Riverside research shows that a naturally occurring peptide found in HLB-tolerant citrus relatives, such as Australian finger lime, can not only kill the bacteria that causes the disease, it can also activate the plant’s own immune system to inhibit new HLB infection. Few treatments can do both.

    Research demonstrating the effectiveness of the peptide in greenhouse experiments has just been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

    The disease is caused by a bacterium called CLas that is transmitted to trees by a flying insect. One of the most effective ways to treat it may be through the use of this antimicrobial peptide found in Australian finger lime, a fruit that is a close relative of citrus plants.

    “The peptide’s corkscrew-like helix structure can quickly puncture the bacterium, causing it to leak fluid and die within half an hour, much faster than antibiotics,” explained Hailing Jin, the UCR geneticist who led the research.

    When the research team injected the peptide into plants already sick with HLB, the plants survived and grew healthy new shoots. Infected plants that went untreated became sicker and some eventually died.

    Arrows point to areas of fluid leakage from the bacterial cell after treatment with the antimicrobial peptide. (Hailing Jin/UCR)

    “The treated trees had very low bacteria counts, and one had no detectable bacteria anymore,” Jin said. “This shows the peptide can rescue infected plants, which is important as so many trees are already positive.”

    The team also tested applying the peptide by spraying it. For this experiment, researchers took healthy sweet orange trees and infected them with HLB-positive citrus psyllids — the insect that transmits CLas.

    After spraying at regular intervals, only three of 10 treated trees tested positive for the disease, and none of them died. By comparison, nine of 10 untreated trees became positive, and four of them died.

    In addition to its efficacy against the bacterium, the stable anti-microbial peptide, or SAMP, offers a number of benefits over current control methods. For one, as the name implies, it remains stable and active even when used in 130-degree heat, unlike most antibiotic sprays that are heat sensitive — an important attribute for citrus orchards in hot climates like Florida and parts of California.

    In addition, the peptide is much safer for the environment than other synthetic treatments. “Because it’s in the finger lime fruit, people have eaten this peptide for hundreds of years,” Jin said.

    Hailing Jin, research leading UC Riverside geneticist

    Researchers also identified that one half of the peptide’s helix structure is responsible for most of its antimicrobial activity. Since it is only necessary to synthesize half the peptide, this is likely to reduce the cost of large-scale manufacturing.

    The SAMP technology has already been licensed by Invaio Sciences, whose proprietary injection technology will further enhance the treatment.

    Following the successful greenhouse experiments, the researchers have started field tests of the peptides in Florida. They are also studying whether the peptide can inhibit diseases caused by the same family of bacteria that affect other crops, such as potato and tomato.

    “The potential for this discovery to solve such devastating problems with our food supply is extremely exciting,” Jin said. — By Jules Bernstein, UC Riverside

  • Yellow Leaves In Spring Indicative Of Need To Adjust Nutrient Management

    California Avocado Commission — In spring, as California avocado trees begin to bloom, growers often report seeing yellow leaves at the ends of branches of otherwise healthy trees. Dr. Danny Klittich, of Redox, recently posted an online article about the yellowing of leaves in spring, what this indicates, and what growers can do to remedy the situation.

    When avocado trees begin producing flowers, the blooms become major sinks for nutrients — gathering the nutrients they need to set and retain fruit. The timing of fruit development also coincides with the cooler months of the California avocado growing season, when growers tend to fertilize less and the soils, adapting to cooler temperatures, tend to provide less nutrition to the trees. Thus, trees begin to reallocate nutrients from the roots and leaves to the more important task of developing blooms for fruit set. With nutrients reallocated, leaves on the ends of branches may begin to yellow.

    According to research, nitrogen, zinc and iron leaf concentrations were lower in chlorotic (yellow) leaves. This makes sense when you consider the importance of each of these to bloom and fruit development. In general, Dr. Klittich recommends that trees should yield a fall tissue sample of 2.5 – 2.7% nitrogen for higher yields. This level provides the tree with an adequate reservoir for bloom development.

    Dr. Klittich recommends growers complete the following to improve yield potential.

    • Early bud development — During cauliflower bloom and floral elongation, apply nitrogen, zinc, iron, boron and calcium.
    • Bloom spray — Nutrient applications should provide calcium, zinc, iron and amino acids and can be made from cauliflower stage through full bloom
    • Fruit set — Weekly applications should be designed to support fruit set and development

    To view Dr. Klittich’s specific product and dosage recommendations, as well as an informative video concerning avocado bloom strategies, visit his latest online article.

  • Preventing & Managing Wind Damage In CA Avocado Groves

    California Avocado Commission — When it comes to potential wind damage, California avocado growers typically face two different scenarios: chronic wind exposure or severe wind events.

    Avocado trees housed in windy portions of a grove are often stunted and underperform production wise.  They also may be water stressed, which will impact the uptake of minerals, and their roots may be stressed due to consistent rocking caused by the wind. The only remedy, in these cases, is to create a wind shelter that minimizes wind exposure.

    In windy groves, fruit often will exhibit markings that can be mistaken for diseases or pest damage. For example, black marks caused by wind may be mistaken for anthracnose post harvest rot or russet scars may lead growers to suspect their trees have persea thrips damage. While some superficial wind damage may not affect the quality of the fruit – particularly if that damage occurs when the fruit is young – some wind damage can lead to large scars or “alligator skin” that are more impactful to fruit quality.

    Severe wind events often blow avocado trees over. In these instances, unless the tree is very young, consider removing the tree. Attempting to move the tree back into an upright position can further damage the roots. If the fallen trees looks like it will recover, it can remain where it is. New shoots may emerge from the trunk and form the structure for a new tree. If this occurs, large, old branches can be removed later as the new portion of the tree takes shape. If you do remove the tree, avoid planting a new tree close to where the old tree existed unless you remove the stump and sterilize the soil. The roots from the old tree could become infected by Phytophthora root rot and thus infect a new tree.

    Strong wind events also can break limbs or blow fruit off the trees. After a storm, windfall should be properly disposed of and broken branches removed.  It is important to monitor trees after severe storms, paying close attention to signs of wilting that may indicate stressed roots or a broken branch that was missed during earlier assessments.

    For more information about preventing and managing wind damage, visit the California Avocado Commission’s wind protection online library.

  • South Africa Ramps up Grapefruit & Mandarin Exports to US

    The production of South African citrus, mainly soft citrus, new orange varieties, lemons and limes is forecast to continue its strong growth in the 2020/21 Marketing Year (MY), based on the increase in area planted, improved yields, high level of new-plantings coming into full production, and the minimal impact of COVID-19 on labor and input supply. Duty free exports of citrus to the United States under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) are expected to continue their strong annual growth, as the United States is still considered a premium market. 

    Citrus in South Africa is grown across the country mainly in the Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Kwa Zulu Natal, Northern Cape and North West provinces. A total of 86,808 hectares was planted to citrus in South Africa in 2019, a 6 percent increase from 81,603 hectares in 2018. This growth trend is forecast to continue in 2020 to 95,200 hectares, based on the significant investments and aggressive new plantings of soft citrus, lemons, and new varieties of oranges.

    The Limpopo province is the country’s largest citrus production area, accounting for 42 percent of the total area planted, followed by the Eastern Cape (27 percent), Western Cape (19 percent), Mpumalanga (8 percent), Kwa Zulu Natal (2 percent), Northern Cape (2 percent), North West (less than 1 percent), and Free State (less than 1 percent). The Western Cape and Eastern Cape have a cooler climate, which is suited for the production of the navel oranges, lemons, limes, and tangerines/mandarins (soft citrus). The Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces have a warmer climate, which is better suited to the production of grapefruit and Valencia oranges.

    While oranges are the biggest citrus type produced in South Africa and account for 50 percent of the total citrus area planted, there has been notable growth in the area planted to soft citrus and lemons/limes. This growth is driven by the attractive investment returns, profit margins from soft citrus and lemon production, and a spike in global demand. In 2016, the tango citrus variety, which was developed by the University of California Riverside, was granted the plant breeders right in South Africa and is expected to offer competition to the Nardocott variety. The citrus harvesting season typically ranges from February to September. Read the full report from the USDA-ForeignAgricultural Service HERE.

  • California Avocado Commission Referendum Announced

    Every five years the California Department of Food and Agriculture holds a state-mandated referendum vote to provide California avocado growers the opportunity to determine whether the California Avocado Commission will be reapproved to continue for the next five years.

    “The referendum process is a vital component of the law that established the California Avocado Commission,” said Rob Grether, chairman of the CAC board of directors. “It provides growers the opportunity to cast their vote on continuing the operations of the organization.”

    Ballots will be mailed to eligible California avocado commercial producers on February 15, 2021 and must be postmarked and sent to CDFA for tallying by March 16, 2021. Eligible commercial producers who do not receive a ballot should contact the CDFA Marketing Branch staff at 916-900-5018. Results are expected to be tallied by CDFA and announced no later than March 31, 2021.

    “The California Avocado Commission exists to support California avocado growers and is governed by a board of directors comprised of their peers to ensure good stewardship of grower funds,” said CAC President Tom Bellamore.

    The Commission focuses on fostering grower viability by building demand for California avocados at a price premium and increasing the fruit’s perceived value, preference and loyalty. About 70% of CAC’s current budget goes toward marketing, which includes developing strategic, targeted programs with retailers and foodservice operators. Other key activities include advocating for California avocado growers on issues such as water, trade and export, supporting production research and grower education.

    There have been eight reaffirming referenda since the establishment of the California Avocado Commission in 1978.