The Silk Road – the 4,000-mile stretch between China and western Europe where trade flourished from the second century B.C. to the 14th century A.D. – is responsible for one of our favorite and most valuable fruits: the domesticated apple. Snack-packing travelers would pick apples at one spot, eat them and toss their cores many miles away. The seeds grew …

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new …

California’s $86 million date industry produces more than half of the nation’s dates. Most of the fruit is grown in the arid Coachella Valley. Despite efforts by growers to conserve water, data was lacking on date palms’ actual water use to refine the best irrigation management for the crop until a recent research project led by Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative …

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that fresh, chilled or frozen blueberries are not being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or the threat of serious injury, to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported article. The determination was made in …

California Avocado Commission — When it comes to potential wind damage, California avocado growers typically face two different scenarios: chronic wind exposure or severe wind events. Avocado trees housed in windy portions of a grove are often stunted and underperform production wise.  They also may be water stressed, which will impact the uptake of minerals, and their roots may be stressed …

The production of South African citrus, mainly soft citrus, new orange varieties, lemons and limes is forecast to continue its strong growth in the 2020/21 Marketing Year (MY), based on the increase in area planted, improved yields, high level of new-plantings coming into full production, and the minimal impact of COVID-19 on labor and input supply. Duty free exports of …

Every five years the California Department of Food and Agriculture holds a state-mandated referendum vote to provide California avocado growers the opportunity to determine whether the California Avocado Commission will be reapproved to continue for the next five years. “The referendum process is a vital component of the law that established the California Avocado Commission,” said Rob Grether, chairman of …

California Olive Ranch (“COR”), the leading domestic grower of olives for extra virgin olive oil (“EVOO”) with the #1 bestselling product in the U.S. olive oil category, is ringing in the new year with the announcement of several exciting initiatives. Today, the company unveiled a new packaging design for its California Olive Ranch® brand and an innovative technology investment that reaffirms its …

Korea’s total citrus production for Marketing Year (MY) 2020/21 (October – September) is projected to reach 660,000 metric tons (MT). This 4.5 percent increase over MY 2019/20 volume is attributed to a larger open- field “Unshu” orange crop forecasted in the northern Jeju island growing region. Korea’s 2020/21 citrus consumption is projected to increase 2.9 percent to 567,000 MT due …