California stonefruit crops are expected to show a decline on production in 2008 and a return to the three-year average of 2004-06.
The California Tree Fruit Agreement (CTFA) finalised the 2009 fresh peach, plum and nectarine forecasts last week and predicts a total crop size of 49.6 million packages: 21.4m packages of peaches, 8.9m of plums and 19.2m of nectarines. Timing is consistent compared to 2008, with the overall crop running four to five days later than the historical average, which agronomists expect will benefit fruit sizing.
According to the CTFA, 2008 yielded the second-largest crop in the history of the industry, but the 2009 estimate is for a 14 per cent decline on those levels as grubbing of trees experienced an upswing of 54 per cent over the last two years compared to the five-year average.
Winter and spring growing conditions have been typical with some frost, hail, and wind damage, but the CTFA reports that previous concerns about a period of frost in March have proved unfounded, rather the frosts have proved helpful in thinning trees.
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