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Byline: Dan Bryant Contributing Writer The California Citrus Research Board (CRB) has mounted an aggressive, three-pronged campaign to repel the devastating citrus disease, Huanglongbing (HLB), and its vector, Asian citrus [...]

Byline: Cary Blake Farm Press Editorial Staff cblake@farmpress.com The California commercial avocado industry is bracing for Laurel wilt disease, Raffaelea lauricola. The disease, not yet found in California, causes trees [...]

Byline: Cary Blake Farm Press Editorial Staff cblake@farmpress.com Boxing legend Muhammad Ali often verbally quipped with his opponents before a heavyweight championship match with the saying, 'Float like a butterfly, [...]

Byline: Harry Cline Farm Press Editorial Staff hcline@farmpress.com The embattled California tree fruit industry went into 2008 with high hopes, only to see its optimism nosedive mid-season like an overripe [...]

Byline: Dan Bryant Contributing Writer 'The California citrus industry will not allow the Asian citrus psyllid to consume us,' says Ted Batkin, president of the California Citrus Research Board. At [...]

Byline: Cary Blake Farm Press Editorial Staff cblake@farmpress.com California's $1.3 billion commercial citrus industry is bracing for what could be a massive threat to the future of the state's 290,000 [...]

Byline: Harry Cline Farm Press Editorial Staff hcline@farmpress.com Progressive California fresh fruit growers have significantly reduced nitrogen use on peach, plum and nectarine trees, and the result has been improved [...]

Byline: Cary Blake Farm Press Editorial Staff cblake@farmpress.com A growing sense of normalcy is generating sighs of relief for citrus grower Jerry Driedger this spring. 'Right now we're setting our [...]

Byline: Cary Blake Farm Press Editorial Staff cblake@farmpress.com As agricultural water supplies slowly evaporate in the West amid increasing drought pressures, sprouting population growth, and other factors, Western farmers face [...]

Sunkist President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey D. Gargiulo has announced the appointment of Jeffrey E. Moxie as vice president and chief administrative officer for Sunkist Growers Inc., the international [...]

The article reports on the decision of two major California wine growing regions to form mandatory marketing commissions to promote their areas as premier wine producing brands. Sonoma and Mendocino counties have initiatives similar to the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission and the Washington Wine Commission.

Jeffrey D. Gargiulo has been unanimously confirmed to be president and chief executive officer of Sunkist Growers Inc., the country's oldest and largest citrus marketing cooperative. His selection followed a [...]

California orange group to set minimum for current season After three straight seasons of orange prices below break-even, California navel orange growers are banning together to hopefully establish minimum floor [...]

Vice chairmen chosen Tulare County, Calif., citrus grower Al Williams has been elected to his second term as chairman of the Sunkist Growers board of directors. Williams has been on [...]

Assistance option sought for fruit and vegetables The future of thousands of family farms in California and the Southwest is at risk unless the federal government provides a safety net [...]

The article focuses on decrease in the production of avocado in California due to the lack of water availability and cost of production. According to avocado grower Steve Hollister, addressing farm managers and rural appraisers at the 2015 Outlook Conference, California is unable to meet the demand for the fruit in the U.S., which is continuously increasing due to foreign competition and lower price. It also focuses on the citrus, grape and almond industry of California.

The article discusses the benefit received by Neal Newsom in diversifying his 2400-acre Upland cotton, milo and watermelon operation, with five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in 1986. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), the wine grapes costs $1,500 to $2,000/tons, depending on the quality and variety. Moreover, with such price of wine grapes, Newsom generated more income and set a lot of land.

The article reports on the prediction for the 2008 crop production of citrus after the 2007 freeze in California and Arizona. According to the latest crop production report, the orange production is forecasted at 96 million cartons, up 12% from the December 1, 2007 prediction, while lemon production forecast is 34 million cartons, 6% above in 2007. However, it notes that the segment of California's and Arizona's citrus industries that is more damaged is the lemon sector.

Reports on the adoption of a new broader vision by Sunkist Growers Inc., a citrus marketing cooperative with members in California and Arizona. Percentage increase in revenues and payments to members for 2004; Aim to have a stronger presence in the international marketplace, particularly with enhanced brand recognition; Plan to increase emphasis on quality; Role of the cooperative in the California Citrus Growers Association.

Reports on the issues over the slowdown of tree fruit yield in California. Impetus to the trend; Reason behind the move of growers to pullout a certain percentage of their orchards to replace older orchards; Screening by growers of collusion and price fixing.

Reports on the impact of the creation of the California Citrus Growers Association (CCGA) on the citrus fruit industry in California. Effect of the advent of the CCGA on the citrus fruit industry; Accounts on how the CCGA was formed; Objective of the CCGA.

Information about a meeting of San Joaquin Valley wine growers held in 2011 in California is presented. E&J Gallo Winery president and chief executive officer (CEO) said that there will be a continued growth in the wine business. Allied Grape Growers CEO and president Nat DiBuduo asserted grape growers should maintain quality. However, vineyard and winery valuation expert Tony Correia claimed that there will be a fragile global market because of financial crises in Greece, Italy, and Spain.

The article discusses the increased production of small-size, easy-peel mandarin citrus varieties in California to make up for orange acreage losses in the state as of September 2016.

The article reports on the challenges faced by the fruit tree industry in Central San Joaquin Valley, California which caused eight farms to close due to losses. Orchard owner Gordon Wiebe has said that things are tight for the farmers who have difficulty rolling in the money. It adds that California Tree Fruit Agreement president Sheri Mierau has said that fruit growers are seeing negative changes but some still believe that the industry will emerge stronger after the recession.

The article reports on the need of the fruit industry to evaluate the 300 new cultivars in California. The move aims to restore profitability for the industry by improving efficiency in production practices. It is said that the industry has to control itself with the planting of ideal cultivars, including the large size fruit the market now clearly demands. According to pomologist Ted DeJong, the industry must assess the marginal gain to achieve by planting new variety.

The article presents the author's comments on the future for tree fruit growers in the United States. He said that retailers are capitalizing on the consumers' willingness to pay more for fruits and vegetables that are perceived to offer nutritional and health benefits. The author states that growers are getting less of the final price because some retailers are focusing more on their margins rather than on sales volume.

Reports on the addition of California-based Sun Valley Packing, a long-time standing and well respected premium tree fruit and table grape grower, packer and shipper, to Ballantine Produce Co.'s marketing program. Efforts of both companies to further production programs; Plan of Ballantine to market nearly 200 varieties of premium tree fruits; Plan to increase their import program from South America with a full range of stone fruit and table grapes.

The article offers information on the website Citrus Strong California launched by the nonprofit citrus organization California Citrus Mutual (CCM) which aims to help customers, policy makers, and the government to understand the progressive citrus industry in California. According to CCM president Joel Nelson, the organization and the website's goal was to provide legislature and customers with tools to address challenges provided by activists who challenges the supplies in the industry.

The article reports on the impact of the move of E & J Gallo, the world's largest winery, to issue a 190 dollar per ton price on Thompson seedless grape growers in the U.S. According to Nat DiBuduo, president of Allied Grape Growers, Thompson seedless grape growers in San Joaquin Valley are very disappointed with the number and told growers not to sign a 190 dollar Gallo contract for Thompsons. Also included are some agendas discussed by DiBuduo during the Allied's annual meeting.

The article discusses issues on maximum residue limit (MRL) for the grape and tree fruit industries in the U.S. It states that fruit producers face several demands and challenges of crop production including but no limited to MRLs. It notes that the California Table Grape Commission, the California Grape and Tree Fruit League and several other organizations work together to monitor issues on MRLs. It adds that MRL issues need to be addressed as part of the growing sector.

The article announces that the California Department of Food and Agriculture is looking for individuals to fill vacancies at its Standardization Advisory Committee. These vacancies include five sectors, including table grape, fresh fruit and mixed vegetable. It reveals that the members will serve for two years and will be responsible in ensuring that fruits and vegetables meet the standards established by the agency. Information on where to submit the applications is also given.

The article reports on the hard decision faced by the embattled tree fruit industry for 2009 in California. Gary Van Sickle and Gordon Smith notes that the surviving three fruit growers and packers in the state are left to ponder their faith. They suggest that there is a need for orchard removal of poor varieties to reduce volume.

The article reports on the 65,000 tons down of olive crops in 2008 in California. The olive industry estimates for about 50 percent of depression compared to 2007. The 2008 table olive orchards yield 65,000 tons, down from 132,500 tons last 2007. It mentions that the said reduction was caused by several factors related to weather.

The article presents the comments of Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual, on the uncertainty in the size of citrus fruits. According to Nelsen, the U.S. fruit industry is nervous because the size of citrus fruits is not satisfying the consumers demand. It is estimated that the navel orange crop will be 27 percent smaller than the largest California navel crop in 2005.

The article reports developments on the strawberry market in the U.S. It has been forecasted that the market for the U.S.-produced fresh strawberries will continue its 25-year growth streak, despite the increasing domination of the traditional U.S. export markets by China. There are significant factors that are driving the growth of the U.S. fresh strawberry market, including the production of varieties that have improved shelf life qualities and the implementation of better post-harvest techniques.

This article reports that a Fruit Chemical Use Survey is being conducted in the fall by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Information gathered from fruit growers in 12 states will be used to establish state and national estimates on pesticide and agricultural chemical use for 24 fruit crops.

Focuses on the identification of striped mealybug as potential grape pests in California. Description of striped mealybugs; List of areas around the state where the striped mealybug can be found; Infestation of several nut orchards by striped mealybugs; Detailed studies on the biology and habits of the mealybugs in pistachios, almonds and grapes.

Highlights the crop production forecast for January 2005 by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Agricultural Statistics Service. Outlook for cotton and oranges production; Market conditions for the lemon, tangerine and grapefruit crops.

Reports on the launch of a series of workshops on fruit and vegetable sanitation from harvest to package offered by the International Fresh-cut Produce Association in cooperation with produce growers and handlers in California. Educational forum for produce professionals such as growers, shippers, packinghouse operators and fresh-cut processors; Participants and speakers.

Announces the rechartering of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department Agriculture. Search for nominations for membership; Representation of the fruit and vegetable industry; Call for suggestions and ideas to address the needs of the industry.