The California stone fruit season looks to be ahead of last year at this time. "We're about 10 days ahead of last year," says Jon McClarty of HMC Farms. "Last year was really late to start so this year is a more normal type of season in terms of timing."
As far as harvest goes, HMC Farms is about 10-15 percent of the way into the crop. "The supply is good. Maybe this is from a prolonged bloom, but a higher percentage of the fruit is smaller," he says. However, often with stone fruit, sizing runs smaller at the beginning of the season because the time from bloom to harvest is shorter for the early varieties to grow.
Volume could increase
Both last year and this year though look to have produced good-quality fruit. As far as overall volume, right now numbers are coming in lower than projected on the first few varieties. However as the season goes on, that could change given the longer growing time.
Harvest began with peaches and nectarines and plums will begin this weekend.
Meanwhile, McClarty says the industry is hopeful for good demand this season. "It's too early to tell yet what the demand will be for the majority of the season as many retailers are just starting to carry summer stone fruit," he says.
For more information:
Jon McClarty
HMC FarmsTel: +1 (559) 897-1025
[email protected]
www.hmcfarms.com