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The California pistachio harvest started early, with Nichols Farms getting underway August 11. Usually, the harvest in the state starts around late August or early September.
The Hansford, CA based company reports this year’s production volume is expected to be drastically lower compared to average. Total yields are predicted to be anywhere between 600 and 800 million pounds, down at least 50 percent from last year’s near record yield.
In 2025, growers in the state harvested a total of 1.6 billion pounds.
The decline is mostly due to early spring heat waves which caused the male pistachio trees’ pollen to become infertile. This has significantly impacted the number of female trees that were successfully pollinated to produce fruit.
According to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios, California produced a record 1.5 billion pounds of pistachios in 2023. The industry surpassed that figure in 2025 with a 1.6 billion-pound crop, a 484 per cent increase compared with 2015. During the same period, exports rose by 223 per cent between the 2014/15 and 2024/25 crop years.
Demand has continued to support the market. U.S. per capita availability increased from 0.23 pounds of shelled pistachios in the 2015/16 crop year to nearly 0.70 pounds today. Export shipments have also reached record levels in recent years. Demand has also been supported by the growing use of pistachios as an ingredient in products such as the Dubai chocolate, first introduced in 2022 and later followed by similar products from several international brands.
Pistachios are an alternate-bearing crop, and early hot weather has further reduced yield expectations, particularly in orchards south of Fresno County. Some growers estimate total production could range from 700 million to 900 million pounds, less than half the 2025 crop.
The report concludes that California pistachio production in 2026 is expected to fall below 2025 levels.
Sweet corn loadings continue in good volume from New Jersey.
Nardelli Brothers of Cedarville, NJ , is in the middle of its summer corn season. The grower, shipper, distributor started harvest in early July. The company has good volume and good supply in both bicolor yellow white as well as its wild Violet which is offered in tray packs.
The season started slightly early ahead in late June and it will continue until mid to late October. Following that, supply for the company will be sourced from Georgia.
The company operates its tray pack operations in its main facility in Cedarville.
In July Nardelli Brothers expanded its shipping areas to the Midwest and Northeast as growers in those regions were facing dry growing conditions resulting in less volume. The operation also ships to Southern states before their sweet corn seasons start.
As local sweet corn seasons get underway, the firm tends to limit more shipments to the tri-state area.
When the Jersey corn season winds down this fall, the company will source product from Georgia.
Strawberry and raspberry shipments are in peak volume with excellent quality across California’s Central Coast with Watsonville and Salinas leading production.
Plentiful volumes will be available in the coming weeks. Raspberry loadings in Oxnard and Watsonville is expected to steadily increase, supporting consistent volumes for the remainder of the season, shares shipper Gem-Pack Berries, LLC. of Irving, CA noting good availability and peak quality on strawberries from California’s Central Coast are also expected to continue as summer demand remains strong.
California is expected to harvest 43,726 acres of strawberries in 2026, a five percent increase over last year due to expanded fall plantings.
The 2026 California strawberry season has been determined by dramatic weather swings that have affected both production and prices.
Warm temperatures in February and March brought the harvest nearly three weeks earlier than usual, producing higher-than-average yields. March production reached 80 to 150 trays per acre, well above the five-year average of 30 to 70 trays. The increased supply pushed strawberry prices down to between $7 and $10 per tray during the early part of the season.
However, cooler temperatures and rain in April and May slowed production and damaged crops. Rain can cause strawberries to split, burst, and develop mold, reducing the amount of marketable fruit. As weekly volumes declined, prices rebounded to between $10 and $16 per tray, giving many growers an opportunity to recover from the earlier price drop.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that daily almond consumption was associated with improvements in cognitive performance, metabolic health, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in middle-aged Asian Indian adults with prediabetes.
The 24-week randomized controlled trial, funded by the Almond Board of California, involved 60 adults aged 40 to 60 in New Delhi with prediabetes but no signs of cognitive decline. Participants followed either a control diet or a calorie-matched diet including 32 to 42 grams of almonds per day, equivalent to about 20% of daily calorie intake.
Researchers measured cognitive function, blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, blood lipids, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body composition at the beginning and end of the study.
Compared with the control group, participants consuming almonds showed improvements in executive function and processing speed. Measures of sustained attention, overall cognition, memory and working memory were not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons.
The almond group also recorded lower fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels, lower HbA1c, and reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, BMI, body fat, body weight and waist circumference. Participants lost an average of 3.3 kilograms and reduced waist circumference by 3.1 centimetres during the study. Researchers also reported changes in markers linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, although biomarker-cognition correlations were not statistically significant after multiple-comparison adjustment.
Dr. Anoop Misra, co-investigator and Chairman of the Fortis-CDOC Center of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases, and Endocrinology in New Delhi, said: “Adults with prediabetes are vulnerable to a decline in cognitive function. Our study indicates that just one simple dietary change, adding a small quantity of almonds to the daily diet, may help support brain health and improve cognitive performance in some populations.”
He added: “As with our previous research, we found that diets enriched with almonds benefit metabolic health measures like blood sugar control and body weight. Together, these changes could help lower the risk of prediabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes, a condition associated with an increased risk of dementia.”
The researchers said the findings are limited by the study’s sample size, 24-week duration, and focus on middle-aged Asian Indian adults with prediabetes. They noted that further studies involving larger and more diverse populations are needed.
Wisconsin red and yellow potato harvest is underway at Alsum Farms in Adams, WI., with the first loads being washed, graded, and packed for fresh-market delivery to distribution centers and retail grocers.
“The first harvest of yellow potatoes at Alsum Farms looks promising,” says Larry Alsum, President & CEO of Alsum Farms & Produce, based in Friesland, WI, in a press release.
Alsum Farms’ russet potato harvest will begin August 13 with the Russet Plover and Caribou varieties at the Arena, WI., farm.
Both early-season varieties will be the first new-crop russets harvested off the field, freshly washed, packed, and delivered to retail grocers throughout the Midwest and beyond. Yellow and purple fingerlings were ready for shipping start August 10. In addition, new-crop Wisconsin organic russet, red, and yellow potatoes were available for shipping August 3.
Alsum Farms grows, nurtures, and harvests farm-fresh potatoes that make their way to dinner tables across America through the Wisconsin Healthy Grown Program. This eco-friendly program has guided the farm’s sustainability practices since 1996. Alsum Farms follows the Healthy Grown Program’s regenerative agriculture approach, working to strengthen ecosystems and community resilience, and has dedicated 50 acres to prairie restoration and pollinator habitat to support a sustainably grown food supply.
“In 1992 we began farming, and by 1996 we helped establish the Wisconsin Healthy Grown Program,” says Alsum, a founding member of the program. “Since that time, the Healthy Grown Program has continued to guide our farm sustainability practices, utilizing Integrated Pest Management to efficiently manage inputs and implement conservation practices that enhance ecosystem health.”
With Alsum Farms in full swing harvesting new-crop Wisconsin Healthy Grown Certified russet, red, and yellow potatoes, now is an excellent time to offer customers farm-fresh, sustainably grown potatoes. The versatility and storability of fresh potatoes make this budget-friendly staple a go-to
vegetable for nutritious, delicious family meals.
Alsum offers a wide range of pack options, from 12 ounces up to 50-pound bags, in poly, mesh, paper, or cartons.
Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc. packs potatoes and onions under the Alsum Farms & Produce brand. Organic potatoes are packed under the Alsum Organics and Rainbow Organics labels, and unclassified potatoes under the Family Favorite brand.
For more than 50 years, Alsum Farms & Produce has been a leading grower and shipper of locally grown potatoes and onions, and a provider of fresh, quality produce.
About Alsum Farms & Produce
Alsum Farms & Produce Inc. is a leading fresh-market grower, packer, and shipper of Wisconsin-grown potatoes and onions, and a provider of fresh, quality produce. Established five decades ago and headquartered in Friesland, Wis., Alsum Farms & Produce is a vertically integrated, family-owned farm, packing facility, and logistics company. Committed to sustainability and stewardship of the soil, Alsum Farms grows 3,000 acres of Wisconsin Healthy Grown Certified potatoes, along with pumpkins.
Putting peaches in storage increases the risk of chilling injury. Symptoms include bleeding, browning, and a mealy texture and are developed if peaches are stored for more than two weeks. That risk in combination with their short shelf-life creates a dilemma for growers when unanticipated fluctuations of supply occur. “Balancing supply inconsistency with the risks of holding fruit is a fine line that needs to be walked.”
At the consumer level, chilling injury is basically unknown, but its symptoms are one of the primary reasons consumers report dissatisfaction with the category. Often, it is invisible until the fruit is cut. Inconsistency of production patterns at the grower level has a direct link to inconsistency of quality at the consumer level, resulting in a dramatic, long-term impact on the category year over year.
In his research, Ioannis Minas, Associate Professor of Pomology at Colorado State University addresses this issue. Lots of research has been done on chilling injury, but it cannot be avoided. His theory is that we are dealing with chilling injury because we can’t predict the production peaks. That’s when he and Verdant Technologies started talking. The need for stone fruit to travel through the supply chain at a high pace coupled with the many varieties ripening at different times, could Verdant’s technology assist in making the supply chain more efficient?
HarvestHold Fresh
During the testing phase, Verdant’s 1-MCP technology was applied to different types of stone fruit. The technology is basically a plastic sheet that is encapsulated with 1-MCP, which is very easy to apply. Pilot treatments were done with a large grower in Colorado and the benefits immediately showed. It slows down softening, browning and the development of mealiness,” shared Minas. The technology, called HarvestHold Fresh®, is applied immediately at the packing line. The sheet is put in the box, and it works by itself during storage, cooling, and transportation. Following Colorado, California nectarines – both yellow and white – were included in the trials.
While the results with peaches were favorable, the results with nectarines were even better, shared Minas. The University is now working on getting more data for other stone fruits, including plums, and the first results are very promising.
The application of HarvestHold roughly gives the fruit an additional week in the supply chain. At the end of the day, HarvestHold for stone fruit allows growers and shippers to better manage the volatility in supply as it provides them with additional storage time without compromising the quality of the end product. Fruit lasts longer, stays firmer, and tastes better, says Matthew Aronson, Chief Revenue Officer at Verdant Technologies.
The 2026 vegetable growing season in Salinas, CA is progressing much better that at this time last year.
Ippolito International of Salinas, CA reports Salinas vegetable crops are in excellent quality and in ample supply. The fields are in good shaping and the weather has supported crop growth at a manageable pace.
Steady supplies are expected with good volumes and pricing with strong demand for items such as Brussels sprouts and sweet baby broccoli, both of which are seeing strengthening demand year over year.
In 2025, the season saw inconsistent weather, with higher-than-normal temperatures and even some intermittent rain. That challenged supply levels as the company tried to produce a consistent, quality pack. This year, things seem to be moving along with a bit less drama.
However, Ippolito notes this year still has its challenges. February in the region was very warm which led to an earlier than normal Salinas harvest–10-14 days earlier than planned. That early start proved to be the biggest challenge this season. This has resulted in different crops each having their own peaks and valleys.
Hatch Chile loadings got underway in mid July pretty much on schedule, although with lighter volume. Overall volume is expected to be down slightly this season, according The Hatch Chile Store in Las Cruces, NM. The actual product is grown about 40 miles south of Las Cruces at Hatch, NM.
Volume this season will look a little lighter, particularly at the start of the season, due to some curly top that the plants developed which ultimately reduces yields.
The season is on schedule and small volumes were being shipped in mid July and have ramped up since. Shipments of chile peppers will continue until the end of October.
The Hatch Chile Store reports the earliest chile is always have a slightly shorter shelf life than the later chile. In September, the quality starts to go up and the seeded chile shipped in September and October has a longer shelf life. It’s easier to ship and there is less disease pressure because the days are cooler and the plants aren’t as stressed.
Watermelon volume across the U.S. has improved significantly throughout the first two weeks of July, following tight to short supplies for most of June. This was due primarily to a major shortfall in production from the Southern Arizona and California crops, and a much earlier end to spring production from Mexico, according to Stella Farms of Scottsdale, AZ.
The company reports production continues at above average levels from the Southeastern U.S. and new growing areas start in Missouri, North Carolina, and Central California, watermelon supply levels are now average, to above average, for this time of year.
However, overall supply is lower compared to this time last year when volumes were very, very high. Overall, supply is still about average from Western U.S. growing regions, and a bit above average from the Eastern U.S. growing regions.
In the East, production has transitioned from Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama to the next growing regions in North Carolina, Missouri, and Arkansas, and that transition is going smoothly with all new regions starting on time, as expected. There also is production which started recently from Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, and Delaware, which is on time, if not a little early.
Shipments of finger limes from California got underway in late May, which is an early start, according to Shanley Farms of Morro Bay, CA as the company is sending produce to both domestic and international markets.
This year’s production looks similar to a year ago. Steady volumes of finger limes are expected through December barring any extreme weather conditions. Peak loadings typically occur in the fall.
Shanley Farms this season has formed a partnership with Fruition Sales of Orange Cove, CA which is now handling sales. This allows Shanley to focus on the growing side of the business.
The California pistachio harvest started early, with Nichols Farms getting underway August 11. Usually, the harvest in the state starts around late August or early September.
The Hansford, CA based company reports this year’s production volume is expected to be drastically lower compared to average. Total yields are predicted to be anywhere between 600 and 800 million pounds, down at least 50 percent from last year’s near record yield.
In 2025, growers in the state harvested a total of 1.6 billion pounds.
The decline is mostly due to early spring heat waves which caused the male pistachio trees’ pollen to become infertile. This has significantly impacted the number of female trees that were successfully pollinated to produce fruit.
According to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios, California produced a record 1.5 billion pounds of pistachios in 2023. The industry surpassed that figure in 2025 with a 1.6 billion-pound crop, a 484 per cent increase compared with 2015. During the same period, exports rose by 223 per cent between the 2014/15 and 2024/25 crop years.
Demand has continued to support the market. U.S. per capita availability increased from 0.23 pounds of shelled pistachios in the 2015/16 crop year to nearly 0.70 pounds today. Export shipments have also reached record levels in recent years. Demand has also been supported by the growing use of pistachios as an ingredient in products such as the Dubai chocolate, first introduced in 2022 and later followed by similar products from several international brands.
Pistachios are an alternate-bearing crop, and early hot weather has further reduced yield expectations, particularly in orchards south of Fresno County. Some growers estimate total production could range from 700 million to 900 million pounds, less than half the 2025 crop.
The report concludes that California pistachio production in 2026 is expected to fall below 2025 levels.
Sweet corn loadings continue in good volume from New Jersey.
Nardelli Brothers of Cedarville, NJ , is in the middle of its summer corn season. The grower, shipper, distributor started harvest in early July. The company has good volume and good supply in both bicolor yellow white as well as its wild Violet which is offered in tray packs.
The season started slightly early ahead in late June and it will continue until mid to late October. Following that, supply for the company will be sourced from Georgia.
The company operates its tray pack operations in its main facility in Cedarville.
In July Nardelli Brothers expanded its shipping areas to the Midwest and Northeast as growers in those regions were facing dry growing conditions resulting in less volume. The operation also ships to Southern states before their sweet corn seasons start.
As local sweet corn seasons get underway, the firm tends to limit more shipments to the tri-state area.
When the Jersey corn season winds down this fall, the company will source product from Georgia.
Strawberry and raspberry shipments are in peak volume with excellent quality across California’s Central Coast with Watsonville and Salinas leading production.
Plentiful volumes will be available in the coming weeks. Raspberry loadings in Oxnard and Watsonville is expected to steadily increase, supporting consistent volumes for the remainder of the season, shares shipper Gem-Pack Berries, LLC. of Irving, CA noting good availability and peak quality on strawberries from California’s Central Coast are also expected to continue as summer demand remains strong.
California is expected to harvest 43,726 acres of strawberries in 2026, a five percent increase over last year due to expanded fall plantings.
The 2026 California strawberry season has been determined by dramatic weather swings that have affected both production and prices.
Warm temperatures in February and March brought the harvest nearly three weeks earlier than usual, producing higher-than-average yields. March production reached 80 to 150 trays per acre, well above the five-year average of 30 to 70 trays. The increased supply pushed strawberry prices down to between $7 and $10 per tray during the early part of the season.
However, cooler temperatures and rain in April and May slowed production and damaged crops. Rain can cause strawberries to split, burst, and develop mold, reducing the amount of marketable fruit. As weekly volumes declined, prices rebounded to between $10 and $16 per tray, giving many growers an opportunity to recover from the earlier price drop.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that daily almond consumption was associated with improvements in cognitive performance, metabolic health, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in middle-aged Asian Indian adults with prediabetes.
The 24-week randomized controlled trial, funded by the Almond Board of California, involved 60 adults aged 40 to 60 in New Delhi with prediabetes but no signs of cognitive decline. Participants followed either a control diet or a calorie-matched diet including 32 to 42 grams of almonds per day, equivalent to about 20% of daily calorie intake.
Researchers measured cognitive function, blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, blood lipids, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body composition at the beginning and end of the study.
Compared with the control group, participants consuming almonds showed improvements in executive function and processing speed. Measures of sustained attention, overall cognition, memory and working memory were not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons.
The almond group also recorded lower fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels, lower HbA1c, and reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, BMI, body fat, body weight and waist circumference. Participants lost an average of 3.3 kilograms and reduced waist circumference by 3.1 centimetres during the study. Researchers also reported changes in markers linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, although biomarker-cognition correlations were not statistically significant after multiple-comparison adjustment.
Dr. Anoop Misra, co-investigator and Chairman of the Fortis-CDOC Center of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases, and Endocrinology in New Delhi, said: “Adults with prediabetes are vulnerable to a decline in cognitive function. Our study indicates that just one simple dietary change, adding a small quantity of almonds to the daily diet, may help support brain health and improve cognitive performance in some populations.”
He added: “As with our previous research, we found that diets enriched with almonds benefit metabolic health measures like blood sugar control and body weight. Together, these changes could help lower the risk of prediabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes, a condition associated with an increased risk of dementia.”
The researchers said the findings are limited by the study’s sample size, 24-week duration, and focus on middle-aged Asian Indian adults with prediabetes. They noted that further studies involving larger and more diverse populations are needed.
Wisconsin red and yellow potato harvest is underway at Alsum Farms in Adams, WI., with the first loads being washed, graded, and packed for fresh-market delivery to distribution centers and retail grocers.
“The first harvest of yellow potatoes at Alsum Farms looks promising,” says Larry Alsum, President & CEO of Alsum Farms & Produce, based in Friesland, WI, in a press release.
Alsum Farms’ russet potato harvest will begin August 13 with the Russet Plover and Caribou varieties at the Arena, WI., farm.
Both early-season varieties will be the first new-crop russets harvested off the field, freshly washed, packed, and delivered to retail grocers throughout the Midwest and beyond. Yellow and purple fingerlings were ready for shipping start August 10. In addition, new-crop Wisconsin organic russet, red, and yellow potatoes were available for shipping August 3.
Alsum Farms grows, nurtures, and harvests farm-fresh potatoes that make their way to dinner tables across America through the Wisconsin Healthy Grown Program. This eco-friendly program has guided the farm’s sustainability practices since 1996. Alsum Farms follows the Healthy Grown Program’s regenerative agriculture approach, working to strengthen ecosystems and community resilience, and has dedicated 50 acres to prairie restoration and pollinator habitat to support a sustainably grown food supply.
“In 1992 we began farming, and by 1996 we helped establish the Wisconsin Healthy Grown Program,” says Alsum, a founding member of the program. “Since that time, the Healthy Grown Program has continued to guide our farm sustainability practices, utilizing Integrated Pest Management to efficiently manage inputs and implement conservation practices that enhance ecosystem health.”
With Alsum Farms in full swing harvesting new-crop Wisconsin Healthy Grown Certified russet, red, and yellow potatoes, now is an excellent time to offer customers farm-fresh, sustainably grown potatoes. The versatility and storability of fresh potatoes make this budget-friendly staple a go-to
vegetable for nutritious, delicious family meals.
Alsum offers a wide range of pack options, from 12 ounces up to 50-pound bags, in poly, mesh, paper, or cartons.
Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc. packs potatoes and onions under the Alsum Farms & Produce brand. Organic potatoes are packed under the Alsum Organics and Rainbow Organics labels, and unclassified potatoes under the Family Favorite brand.
For more than 50 years, Alsum Farms & Produce has been a leading grower and shipper of locally grown potatoes and onions, and a provider of fresh, quality produce.
About Alsum Farms & Produce
Alsum Farms & Produce Inc. is a leading fresh-market grower, packer, and shipper of Wisconsin-grown potatoes and onions, and a provider of fresh, quality produce. Established five decades ago and headquartered in Friesland, Wis., Alsum Farms & Produce is a vertically integrated, family-owned farm, packing facility, and logistics company. Committed to sustainability and stewardship of the soil, Alsum Farms grows 3,000 acres of Wisconsin Healthy Grown Certified potatoes, along with pumpkins.
Putting peaches in storage increases the risk of chilling injury. Symptoms include bleeding, browning, and a mealy texture and are developed if peaches are stored for more than two weeks. That risk in combination with their short shelf-life creates a dilemma for growers when unanticipated fluctuations of supply occur. “Balancing supply inconsistency with the risks of holding fruit is a fine line that needs to be walked.”
At the consumer level, chilling injury is basically unknown, but its symptoms are one of the primary reasons consumers report dissatisfaction with the category. Often, it is invisible until the fruit is cut. Inconsistency of production patterns at the grower level has a direct link to inconsistency of quality at the consumer level, resulting in a dramatic, long-term impact on the category year over year.
In his research, Ioannis Minas, Associate Professor of Pomology at Colorado State University addresses this issue. Lots of research has been done on chilling injury, but it cannot be avoided. His theory is that we are dealing with chilling injury because we can’t predict the production peaks. That’s when he and Verdant Technologies started talking. The need for stone fruit to travel through the supply chain at a high pace coupled with the many varieties ripening at different times, could Verdant’s technology assist in making the supply chain more efficient?
HarvestHold Fresh
During the testing phase, Verdant’s 1-MCP technology was applied to different types of stone fruit. The technology is basically a plastic sheet that is encapsulated with 1-MCP, which is very easy to apply. Pilot treatments were done with a large grower in Colorado and the benefits immediately showed. It slows down softening, browning and the development of mealiness,” shared Minas. The technology, called HarvestHold Fresh®, is applied immediately at the packing line. The sheet is put in the box, and it works by itself during storage, cooling, and transportation. Following Colorado, California nectarines – both yellow and white – were included in the trials.
While the results with peaches were favorable, the results with nectarines were even better, shared Minas. The University is now working on getting more data for other stone fruits, including plums, and the first results are very promising.
The application of HarvestHold roughly gives the fruit an additional week in the supply chain. At the end of the day, HarvestHold for stone fruit allows growers and shippers to better manage the volatility in supply as it provides them with additional storage time without compromising the quality of the end product. Fruit lasts longer, stays firmer, and tastes better, says Matthew Aronson, Chief Revenue Officer at Verdant Technologies.
The 2026 vegetable growing season in Salinas, CA is progressing much better that at this time last year.
Ippolito International of Salinas, CA reports Salinas vegetable crops are in excellent quality and in ample supply. The fields are in good shaping and the weather has supported crop growth at a manageable pace.
Steady supplies are expected with good volumes and pricing with strong demand for items such as Brussels sprouts and sweet baby broccoli, both of which are seeing strengthening demand year over year.
In 2025, the season saw inconsistent weather, with higher-than-normal temperatures and even some intermittent rain. That challenged supply levels as the company tried to produce a consistent, quality pack. This year, things seem to be moving along with a bit less drama.
However, Ippolito notes this year still has its challenges. February in the region was very warm which led to an earlier than normal Salinas harvest–10-14 days earlier than planned. That early start proved to be the biggest challenge this season. This has resulted in different crops each having their own peaks and valleys.
Hatch Chile loadings got underway in mid July pretty much on schedule, although with lighter volume. Overall volume is expected to be down slightly this season, according The Hatch Chile Store in Las Cruces, NM. The actual product is grown about 40 miles south of Las Cruces at Hatch, NM.
Volume this season will look a little lighter, particularly at the start of the season, due to some curly top that the plants developed which ultimately reduces yields.
The season is on schedule and small volumes were being shipped in mid July and have ramped up since. Shipments of chile peppers will continue until the end of October.
The Hatch Chile Store reports the earliest chile is always have a slightly shorter shelf life than the later chile. In September, the quality starts to go up and the seeded chile shipped in September and October has a longer shelf life. It’s easier to ship and there is less disease pressure because the days are cooler and the plants aren’t as stressed.
Watermelon volume across the U.S. has improved significantly throughout the first two weeks of July, following tight to short supplies for most of June. This was due primarily to a major shortfall in production from the Southern Arizona and California crops, and a much earlier end to spring production from Mexico, according to Stella Farms of Scottsdale, AZ.
The company reports production continues at above average levels from the Southeastern U.S. and new growing areas start in Missouri, North Carolina, and Central California, watermelon supply levels are now average, to above average, for this time of year.
However, overall supply is lower compared to this time last year when volumes were very, very high. Overall, supply is still about average from Western U.S. growing regions, and a bit above average from the Eastern U.S. growing regions.
In the East, production has transitioned from Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama to the next growing regions in North Carolina, Missouri, and Arkansas, and that transition is going smoothly with all new regions starting on time, as expected. There also is production which started recently from Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, and Delaware, which is on time, if not a little early.
Shipments of finger limes from California got underway in late May, which is an early start, according to Shanley Farms of Morro Bay, CA as the company is sending produce to both domestic and international markets.
This year’s production looks similar to a year ago. Steady volumes of finger limes are expected through December barring any extreme weather conditions. Peak loadings typically occur in the fall.
Shanley Farms this season has formed a partnership with Fruition Sales of Orange Cove, CA which is now handling sales. This allows Shanley to focus on the growing side of the business.