The 2017 California stonefruit season got underway in the San Joaquin Valley the last week of April, with a trickle of white flesh peach shipments followed by yellow nectarines.
That timing was about a week to ten days later than the previous two years, but actually closer to historical norms.
California’s four-year drought, which produced mild winter conditions, is thought to be the reason for the unusually early onset of the 2015 and 2016 seasons. This last winter, however, saw an abrupt end to drought conditions across most of the state, with abundant rain falling in the San Joaquin Valley.
“There may be some challenges for growers with their spraying programmes from some rain during blossoming,” noted stonefruit industry veteran Jim Stewart in early May. “But no one is complaining about the drought coming to an end.”
The general consensus this year is that shipments will total less than 45m cartons, but could end up closer to 40m. Fruit set is reported to be somewhat light for the second half of the season.
Larger-sized fruit appears to be prevailing for 2017, and should result in increased carton yields for the industry.
