Food & Farm News
» May 23, 2007 «
Cherry farmers gear up for holiday demand ...
Helped by favorable weather throughout the growing season, California cherry farmers say there should be plenty of their fruit on the market for Memorial Day. The chilly winter and the clear spring combined to encourage cherry trees to produce a bountiful crop. The California Cherry Advisory Board says it expects supplies to continue rising through the early weeks of June. The state's cherry production comes mainly from the Central Valley, with half the crop originating in San Joaquin County.
... and sweet corn will be plentiful, too 
After the January freeze wiped out much of their sweet corn, Imperial Valley farmers had to disk under their crops and replant. That replanted corn has reached maturity and farmers will have plenty on the market for the holiday weekend. Observers say farmers have seen strong demand, which traditionally peaks at this time of year. Imperial County ranks second in the state in sweet-corn production, behind Fresno County.
'Spanish red scale' worries citrus farmers
It's called Spanish red scale, and the insect has turned up for the first time in Southern California. The California Citrus Research Board says this form of scale has not been seen in California before and that it may have entered the state from Mexico. Its first appearance in California came on limes growing in San Diego County. A board spokesman said the discovery reaffirms concerns about the potential of invasive pests that can harm California-grown crops.
Weather delays spring potato harvest
The spring potato harvest appears headed to a late start. Crop forecasters say cold weather earlier in the year put the California crop behind schedule. In some cases, farmers will have to wait until next month to begin harvest. Even so, the state's farmers will likely harvest a slightly larger crop of spring potatoes this year. Fall potato production in California rose about 14 percent, compared to the previous year.
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