California Navel orange growers are busy preparing themselves for the upcoming harvest, which at this stage is five to six weeks away. The timing of the harvest has been described as normal, with recent weather conditions providing reason for an optimistic mood.
"At the moment, we are scheduled to start harvesting our Navel crop in November 4," said Derek Vaughn of Johnston Farms. He echoed industry predictions for a shorter crop, with volume down on last year. "The crop is down around 10 percent. This typically occurs after a heavier than normal year. Last season, we saw large volumes and smaller fruit sizing, so this year, we should expect the reverse."
Sizing to be larger
With volume down on last year, the expectation is for fruit sizes to be larger and this is exactly what growers are seeing on the trees. While last season's crop has contributed, the ideal weather conditions have also helped to set up a good start to the season.
"Everything is currently on track for a great start to the season," Vaughn observed. "We are hoping that sizing will be larger than last season, and at this stage, it does look like the fruit is a bit larger. As long as conditions remain as favorable as they have been, we have a lot of reason to be optimistic."
New design for Satsuma mandarin box
One of the new projects that Johnston Farms has been working on is its Satsuma mandarin program. The company has updated its packaging for the Satsumas, with the new design set to be ready for the start of the season in mid November. According to Vaughn, the Satsuma mandarin program is proving to be a strong performer for Johnston Farms.
"This year, we are launching our updated Satsuma mandarin box," he shared. "This program goes hand in hand with our stem & leaf offering, and it is also a huge draw for the holiday season. We typically start our season in mid November, and go through until after Chinese New Year in late January, early February. The freshness of the leaves is paramount, so we do not generally extend our season beyond this."
For more information:
Derek Vaughn
Johnston Farms
Ph: +1 (661) 366-3201
derek.bluejay@gmail.com
www.johnstonfarms.com