Page 106 - index

106 / OCTOBER 2018 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
are subject to supply and demand, according to Bee Sweet’s Sadoain. “Unfortunately, wild res have become California’s new norm, and the industry, as a whole, nds us working to accommodate those additional water needs.”
is past December, wild res raged in Ventura County blown by high winds that scarred lemons. “We worked with one of our retailers who temporarily adjusted specs on scarring to be able to take the fruit,” says Cunningham of Classic Harvest.
Labor is one of the biggest challenges California growers face, adds Cunningham. “ e labor force has contracted due to immigration issues, and the minimum-wage increase has additional costs. Many growers are mechanizing their packing houses.”
Lastly, there’s citrus greening. Scientif- ically called Huanglongbing, this bacterial disease has devastated Florida’s citrus crop, and made its way to Southern California.
“We knew the bug was in Mexico, so nine years ago, we implemented a 9-cents-a-carton assessment to pay for removal of a ected trees,” says CCM’s Nelson. “Most recently,
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOPS FRIENDLY MARKETS
we’ve removed trees in Orange County and have received interest from those in Riverside and Ventura County.”
COUNTERSEASON COOPERATION
California isn’t the only kid on the block when it comes to supplying citrus. Florida, Arizona and Texas are major producers, and each is in the market at the same time as Cali- fornia. In the summer, o shore fruit from countries such as Chile, Peru, South Africa, Mexico and Australia also ful lls demand.
“California can’t o er the volume and variety it does outside its normal season, so imports are necessary,” says Melissa’s Schueller. “ is is especially true for special- ties. Except for a short window in August and September when Cara Cara Navels and Blood oranges come in from o shore, it’s mostly the commodity citrus, regular Navels and Mandarins that are the bulk of the imports. erefore, for now anyway, imported citrus isn’t so much a competitor for California but a complementary part of being able to provide retailers year-round availability.” pb