Pomegranate harvest is underway in California on a crop that looks to have strong quality. “We’ve started to pack the Wonderful variety,” says Keith Wilson with King Fresh Produce LLC. “The crop is not huge and may be affected on some ranches by some cold weather in the early spring when the first flowers come out. It’s going to be a decent size year and the crop is maybe five days later than normal.” He adds that the internal colors are good and supply should be available until mid-December, with the possibility of covering some Christmas business. “Coming into this weekend and through the next three weeks to November 20th, will be peak availability for the Thanksgiving pull,” adds Wilson.
Keith Wilson and son Brock Wilson.
That crop looks to be meeting good domestic demand. “We’ve got export business into Asia that’s also been active with single layers going there. The retail domestic chains are enthusiastic and booking orders,” he says, noting it has sizes from 18 count to 36s for a two-layer box.
As for pricing, it’s going to be similar to last year at this time due to inflation. “There is more supply but we are trying to keep our prices very similar to last year so somewhere between the $25 low to the $35 high is where the market falls on a 24 lb. two-layer box,” says Wilson.
Looking ahead at the show
Pomegranates will just be one thing the team from King Fresh Produce will discuss at this week’s Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, California October 19-21. At its booth, #1888, it will also be promoting pomegranate juice and offering juice samples. “One of our growers, under the Home Grown Cellars label, has his own juice business so we’ll be marketing his juice. It’s aimed at the boutique juice market,” says Wilson. The juice is available in half-pint, pint, quart, half-gallon and gallon sizing.
Wilson believes King Fresh will have table grape availability until December and will be discussing the commodity at its booth at the IFPA show.
However, it will also be discussing other commodities it carries including cherries--King Fresh will start importing Chilean cherries which complement the California cherry season, from November through January--along with California table grapes. “We are very interested in meeting domestic retail and export customers for our table grapes. We have invested a large portion of resources into the new varieties available and we feel like we’ve got a great mix of proven table grape varieties,” says Wilson, noting it will have table grape availability until December this year.
For more information:
Keith Wilson
King Fresh Produce LLC
Tel: +1 (559) 596-2040
keith@kingfresh.com
www.kingfresh.com