Month: August 2011

Breeders have come up with stone fruit varieties that ripen in the San Joaquin Valley from late April to October, but the peak for both quality and quantity is right now, in late July and early August. There won't be much late-season stone fruit from the high desert this year, because of a spring freeze, so now is the time to enjoy. …

Ken Keck will resign this week as executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus after five years — the victim of, in no particular order, declining orange juice sales, citrus greening, higher taxes and state Sen. J.D. Alexander. …

Dulcich & Sons couldn’t be more excited about the size and flavor of this year’s Pretty Lady Premium Table Grapes! Now shipping are both red and black seedless varieties under the Pretty Lady name. California’s climate this year has been perfect, and sets the stage for a record-breaking crop, both in quality and volume, from Dulcich’s 3,100 acres of vineyards. …

This summer, Christopher Ranch is celebrating Monviso, the Italian heirloom garlic at the foundation of the company’s premium garlic tradition, while introducing new packaging that features the Monviso varietal name. …

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced that Dallas-based Hardie’s Fruit & Vegetable Co., LP has been awarded the produce supply contract for Area 2. This agreement awards Hardie’s a two-year contract to supply all fresh fruit and vegetables to 33 military commissaries in 9 states. …