The pull of a strong export market and lighter volumes have made for a strongstone fruit market in California.“Prices are good,” said Jeff Simonian of Simonian Fruit Company, “and they've been steady for most of the season. They've been higher than the last two years, quite a bit higher than last year, and that's considering that prices weren't too bad two years ago.” He noted that prices for smaller sizes have been around the upper teens and for larger sizes around the mid-twenties. Lighter supplies, both in-state and from eastern states, have contributed to higher prices, as has the pull from the export market.
“I think it's a combination of factors that has led to these prices,” said Simonian. “First, it's supply and demand, and it could be that the drought has made some guys divert water to nut crops that are making more money. Also, early in the season there was frost in Georgia that wiped out some peaches, so that helped us.” This is also the first season that growers have had access to the Australian market, and that extra pull from exports has also contributed to higher prices.
“A lot of white varieties are exported heavily to Asian countries, and those exports seem to be increasing every year,” said Simonian. “The dollar is weak, so exports continue to be strong, and that's made for a good season.”
For more information:
Jeff Simonian
Simonian Fruit Company
+1 559 834 5307