-July 7,2022-
According to Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO, Ryan Jacobsen the tomato crop is less than expected because of the drought, at 6.9% below forecasts.-Central Valley News
Prospect of harvesting 2.8 billion pounds of almonds this year — just shy of the 2.9 billion pounds in 2021 and the record 3.1 billion pounds in 2020 — has industry leaders both excited and worried. That’s because about 1.3 billion pounds of unsold almonds are still sitting in piles at processing and packing facilities. The problem comes at a time when inflation and a historic drought are pushing the costs of production and water supplies to an all-time high, and the price of almonds has fallen to an all-time low of about $2 per pound. It’s a sharp reversal for the industry after four decades of relentless expansion across 1.6 million acres in California’s agricultural Central Valley –LA Times
Valley watermelon farmers are anticipating a booming business this summer. Watermelon prices for the San Joaquin Valley crop are running ahead of last year’s pace, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. As of June 30, a 35-count carton of valley seedless watermelons was selling for $150 to $154, while the 45-count carton went for $158 to $161. That’s up $119 to $126 from June 2021.
Seedless miniatures—”personal size,” were going for $12.95 to $13.95 for cartons of six- to nine-count melons at the end of June 2022, according to USDA. Last year, the price was $8.95 to $10.95 per carton of six- to eight-count melons.
Growers say oversupply was a factor in last year’s market, noting that 2021 was a lower-price, lower-volume year.
–Ag Alert