US (WA): Nectarine harvest positive
"Fewer people do any canning now, but more people just like eating fruit and don't like messing with the peach skin," said French, who manages the U-pick orchard near Badger Mountain. "I'm looking to plant some more nectarine trees."
Overall, the 2012 harvest for nectarines has been satisfying.
"It's been a good year, but I wouldn't call it excellent," French said. "The crop size is down a little, but the quality is very good. I can't complain, though. In Sunnyside, they got golf ball-sized hail in some spots."
Nationally, some nectarines have been taken out of production. Last year, there were 28,400 acres in production compared with 30,300 acres in 2009. Much of the reduction was driven by California, which had as many as 36,500 acres of nectarine trees as recently as 2002, but some orchards have been replanted to citrus or nut trees.
In Washington, according to last year's U.S. Department of Agriculture report, there were 1,463 acres planted. Of that, 644 acres are organic.
In 2011, Summer Blush was the most widely planted variety in Washington at 156 acres, although Honey Royale is close at 153 acres, and Red Gold ranking third at 131 acres.
Source: tri-cityherald.com
