Wonderful pomegranate

Producers in California have begun harvesting this season's pomegranate crop.

The harvest is set to run for about a month, with fruit being shipped from storage until January.

Total shipments of fresh pomegranates are expected to reach 4m boxes.

Tom Tjerandsen, manager of the Pomegranate Council, said: "Continued warm days and cool nights in California's Central Valley have helped to produce the cleanest and largest crop we've seen in years."

Brad Paris, general manager of produce at Pom Wonderful, added: "External colour is getting redder by the day and the taste is fantastic, particularly for this early in the season."