Press Releases
CALIFORNIA PEACH, PLUM AND NECTARINE ESTIMATES FINALIZED:
5/9/2007
Contact: Sheri Mierau
CA Tree Fruit Agreement
559-638-8260
smierau@caltreefruit.com
CALIFORNIA PEACH, PLUM AND NECTARINE ESTIMATES FINALIZED:
INDUSTRY EXPECTS A SLIGHTLY LARGER CROP, GREAT-TASTING FRUIT
(May XX, 2007-Reedley, Calif.) California peach, plum and nectarine growers are expecting a 50.5 million container crop for the 2007 season. Projections are for 20.2 million containers of peaches, 19.0 million containers of nectarines, and 11.3 containers of plums to be harvested.
Of the 20.2 million containers of peaches expected to be harvested, about 15.3 million containers will be yellow-flesh varieties and about 4.9 million containers will be white-flesh Summerwhite® varieties. Of the 19.0 million containers of nectarines expected to be harvested, about 14.3 million containers will be yellow-flesh varieties and about 4.7 million will be white-flesh Summerwhite® varieties.
While the crop is expected to be slightly larger than the prior year's, it is a reduced crop in historical terms. Harvests in the past three seasons have totaled 47.5, 50.9, and 50.8 million containers in 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively.
Timing appears to be mixed but roughly normal to two to three days trailing normal, and is comparable to that of the 2005 season. As of early May, early varieties of peaches and nectarines were estimated to be a week ahead of 2006, a year with moderately delayed crop timing. As the crop moves out of low-chill varieties and into high-chill varieties around mid-May, it is expected that timing will range from a week to ten days ahead of 2006.
In terms of fruit development, weather throughout the pre-season period remained ideal. Warm weather during bloom sped up crop progress, but a long period of cool and moderate weather following the bloom period allowed for even fruit growth and maturity.
Flavor on early varieties has been reported to be good to very good thus far, with the winter's plentiful chilling hours proving to have delivered on expectations.
Sizing is slightly reduced in the early varieties, with fruit coming in roughly a half-size smaller than normal. As the season progresses, fruit size is expected to increase.
"We expect both strong demand for the crop and to have plenty of fruit for promotions throughout the season," said California Tree Fruit Agreement President Sheri Mierau. "We also anticipate more international shipments this year, with the Chinese market for plums expected to open earlier than in 2006."
The crop estimates were prepared by CTFA staff in cooperation with California peach, plum and nectarine growers across the state's growing regions, and approved by the federal Peach Commodity and Nectarine Administrative Committees, as well as the California Tree Fruit Marketing Board and the California Plum Marketing Board at a May 1 meeting at the Kearney Agricultural Center in Parlier, CA.
The California Tree Fruit Agreement, headquartered in Reedley, Calif., administers marketing order programs on behalf of California's 1,100 fresh peach, plum and nectarine growers. The CTFA also includes the PPN Network, a strategic marketing resource for the peach, plum and nectarine industry. The PPN Network delivers information and marketing expertise to growers, shippers, retailers, and serves as a resource for the media.