CALIFORNIA FRUIT AND NUT REVIEW

JANUARY CROP COMMENTS - CALIFORNIA 

During January, peach and prune orchards were irrigated, pruned, and planted.  Pruning continued in grape and kiwi vineyards.  Persimmon and apple harvests were complete with application of pre-emergent and dormant sprays beginning.  Walnut harvest finished with groves being irrigated, pruned, and sprayed during the month.  Almond pruning was complete and stockpiles continued to be hulled.  Harvest of pistachios ended and pruning began.

 Navel orange harvest continued during January, as internal maturity improved.  Packing houses reported very little frost damage in harvested fruit.  Satsuma mandarin, Owari, and Clementine tangerine harvests continued. Oro Blanco and Melogold grapefruit harvests neared completion. Pummelo harvest began to pick up. 

FLORIDA CITRUS 

In the citrus growing areas, weather stations reported temperatures ranging from highs in the 80s to lows in the 40s.  Sparse rainfall continued to worsen drought conditions throughout the citrus region this month.  Harvesting of early oranges (Navels and Hamlins), white and colored grapefruit, Sunburst tangerines, and Nova Tangelos continued.  Harvest of Valencia and Honey tangerines began. Production practices included general grove upkeep, fertilizer application, and irrigation as needed. 

SUMMARY OF GRAPE TONNAGES AND PRICES 

The 2011 crush totaled 3,869,894 tons, down 3 percent from the 2010 crush of 3,986,314 tons.  Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 1,917,132 tons, down 7 percent from 2010.  The 2011 white wine variety crush totaled 1,425,557 tons, down 7 percent from 2010.  Tons crushed of raisin type varieties totaled 372,551, up 36 percent from 2010, and tons crushed of table type varieties totaled 154,653 up 25 percent from 2010. 

The 2011 average price of all varieties reached a record high of $588.96, up 8 percent from 2010 and 3 percent above the previous record high set in 2009.  Average prices for the 2011 crop by type were as follows: red wine grapes, $702.70, up 12 percent from 2010; white wine grapes, $541.11, up 8 percent from 2010; raisin grapes, $265.15, up 23 percent; and table grapes, $219.20, up 26 percent.   

LEADING GRAPE VARIETIES AND DISTRICTS 

In 2011, Chardonnay accounted for the largest percentage of the total crush volume with 14.4 percent.  Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for the second leading percentage of crush with 9.9 percent of the total crush.  The next eight highest percentages of grapes crushed included wine and raisin grape varieties.  Thompson Seedless, the leading raisin grape variety crushed for 2011, held 8.4 percent of the total. 

District 13, (Madera, Fresno, Alpine, Mono, Inyo Counties; and Kings and Tulare Counties north of Nevada Avenue (Avenue 192)), had the largest share of the State’s crush, at 1,494,796 tons.  The average price per ton in District 13 was $337.19. 

Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price of $3,407.56 per ton, up 5 percent from 2010.  District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest return of $2,081.12, up 3 percent from 2010.  The 2011 Chardonnay price of $752.30 was up 5 percent from 2010, and the Cabernet Sauvignon price of $1,147.10 was up 11 percent from 2010.  The 2011 average price for Zinfandel was $559.00, up 26 percent from 2010, while the Merlot average price was up 13 percent from 2010 at $691.05 per ton. 

This preliminary report includes all grape tonnage crushed during the 2011 season, as well as purchased tonnage and pricing information with final prices prior to January 10, 2012.  The Final Grape Crush Report will be available March 9, 2012.