California’s navel orange growers have been buoyed by early harvest results, and expect high volumes and excellent quality from this year’s crop.
Picking has been underway for about a month in the Central Valley region, and shipping began two weeks ago, Capital Press reported.
California Citrus Mutual director of industry relations Bob Blakely said things were tracking very well.
“The quality, colour and sugar content are all very good, and more than 90 per cent of the picked fruit is usable,” he said.
“Our volumes are up above what they were for the same week last year and prices have started off in a very favourable range for the growers."
Mr Blakely said prices for peak sizes are ranging from US$12 per carton to US$18.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service has predicted the yield from the 2009/10 navel harvest to be around 80m cartons, up significantly from 64m cartons last season.
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