Crop Report: May 15th, 2020
Tomatoes
Conventionals – Transplanting continues and should be completed next week. Early season plantings are beginning to show blossoms. Should be in full bloom later this week or early next week.
San Marzano Style – Crop is growing very nice and plants look healthy. Beginning to see blossoms and anticipate to be in full bloom next week.
Organics – Continuing to grow and mature nicely. Day time temperatures are below average for this time of year.
Peaches
Organics – Thinning continues and will finish later this week. Crop continues to look good. All other normal cultural practices continue along with standard crop protection.
Conventionals – Growers are continuing to thin trees throughout all growing regions. This process should finish up within the next 12 days. Labor has not been an issue so far. Cooler weather in the forecast will slow peach growth. Reference date was called 7 days earlier than last year, estimating an early harvest. All normal cultural practices along with crop protection continue.
Pears
River and Linden district growers estimate that their overall crop is down 20%. Other districts’ volume appears to be average. Pears have started to turn down and smaller fruit is aborting. Normal cultural practices and crop protection continue.
Grapes
Grapes are continuing to progress with warmer temperatures. Normal cultural practices and crop protection continue with irrigation as needed due to warmer temperatures.
Cherries
The Pacific Northwest crop estimate took place this month, projecting this year’s crop to be below its 3-year average. However, the majority of the lower numbers came from Washington bringing the overall average down. Estimates for both Salem and The Dalles where our growers’ orchards are located look positive with projected average or slightly above average estimates. Based on the degree day accumulation, harvest timing looks to be on track with last year with the potential to be 3-5 days earlier depending on May weather.
Apricots
Sizing samples were taken and indicate a short crop compared to last year. Much of the fruit is still a dark green, indicating we are at least a month away from harvest. Anticipated early blocks will start harvest the first week of June with majority of orchards beginning the second week.
Oysters
This year’s expected yield is not as ideal as anticipated which will affect the availability of inventory. Market pricing of fresh oysters is making it hard for canneries to compete, resulting increased cost for raw product. We anticipate we will be able to continue to source the majority of our pack from Korea however will balance out as necessary from Chinese supplier.
Mandarins
Plants in China are 100% up and running. Although they are on time with shipments, we are facing challenges in other areas as a result of shutdowns due to COVID-19. Freight and trucking at the ports are delayed as they continue to play catch up with increased shipments.
Mango
Current crop appears to be balanced for the upcoming harvest. We expect to see a normal pack for this year.
Pineapple
Overall tonnage is down significantly. Factors for this include 2 consecutive years of drought as well as farmers leaving the market to plant other crops after a drop in prices in 2017. Lower yields are causing facilities to run at lower capacity, reducing efficiencies therefore increasing production costs. Facilities are competing against one another to bring in more raw product causing prices to increase. These factors along with increases in labor and transportation are causing the already reduced market amidst a global pandemic where consumers are demanding more product to become quite expensive.