Following a growing season of mostly moderate weather, which has helped produce a good-sized and quality table grape crop, this week, the weather has shifted. "We have had a small heat wave of between 102-108ºF, depending on the weather, and we've also been experiencing some monsoonal weather. They go hand in hand, which is not the best for soft fruit growers," says Philippe Markarian of Mirabella Farms.
© Mirabella Farms
The heavy rains began Saturday night and have continued with spotty showers. "The moisture has come through the south half of Baja California and is moving north through southern California and into the Sierras," says Markarian, adding that the moisture is now into the San Joaquin Valley.
He adds that the showers have also been affecting things as far south as Wheeler Ridge and into Delano, California, a region where there are table grapes, almonds, and pistachios growing. "Though the weather wouldn't affect the nut crop as much as it would the soft fruit crop," Markarian says, adding that by Tuesday, the rains have been more into the northern Valley.
Fruit assessments underway
All of this is putting soft fruit growers in the region on watch for bacterial infection, depending on the stage of maturity of the fruit. "For the next day or so, most growers will try to evaluate the situation depending on how much rain they received, if any. They will probably apply a fungicide/bactericide to help prevent any infections that may occur, but it may take another week before we see the actual damage, if there's any," he says.
© Classic Fruit
Table grape markets aren't expected to be immediately impacted, if at all, given there's plenty of fruit already in storage. However, if issues emerge in the next week, the market could change. "Other than this, overall we've been experiencing a fantastic growing season for table grapes and stone fruit, and we're really pleased with what we have," says Markarian.
Over in melons, Tom Conrado of Classic Fruit Company in Fresno says that the higher-than-historical temperatures this week in California's central valley have not severely affected melon growing in the fields. "With the advent of drip irrigation systems, along with proper planning and execution, we can keep our fields/crops viable with low doses of water through these systems during these higher heat periods," says Conrado, adding that melons are grown on the west side of the valley and they've not seen rain that may affect harvest, quality or both so far this season. "We have seen very good quality and yields through periods of high heat in seasons past, as well as this year, so overall, the fields continue to look healthy with good fruit sets."
For more information:
Philippe Markarian
Mirabella Farms
www.mirabellafarmsinc.com
Tom Conrado
Classic Fruit Company
www.classicfruit.com