Stonefruit from the US state of California faces a tough season, with volumes of peaches, plums and nectarines forecast to rise slightly on last year to 46.8 million cartons.

Back in March, growers were forecasting a 50m-plus carton crop but then unseasonably cool, wet and at times windy weather swept the Golden State in April. Hail and wind-scarring have led to the reduced forecast, with the San Joaquin Valley particularly affected.

Picking dates are estimated to be running only a couple of days behind for early varieties typically harvested in June, while industry insiders point to a delay of about four days for those cultivars usually picked in July and August.

California Tree Fruit Agreement president Gary Van Sickle told freshinfo: “We have bounced back from the frost damage that we had last year, but this year we have had hail that has reduced the crop especially for plums and nectarines. Altogether, we should have just a little more than a year ago. Our late-season plum Angeleno is up, which is good for the UK market.”

Overall, plums are forecast to reach 8.7m cartons - down more than seven per cent on last season and 32.5 per cent below the bumper year of 2008. Angeleno from the state is due to come on stream four days later than last year on 17 August and output is likely to reach 1.4m cartons, up from last season’s 1.3m.

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