As the offshore lemon season ends, with Argentina finishing shipments and Chile continuing until October, Mexico’s production has dropped due to tough growing conditions. Fresh Plaza reports that this opens a window for California’s desert region, where the lemon season has started slowly because the fruit is still small.
Many farmers are waiting for the lemons to grow larger before picking them. Jose Fu from Corona College Heights (CCH) told Fresh Plaza that the extreme heat in the desert slowed fruit growth. Even though temperatures are cooling, they haven’t helped the lemons grow consistently yet. This slow start is also affecting the supply chain. Some companies follow strict schedules, needing desert lemons before shifting to the Central Valley. CCH, however, is ready to take more fruit when it’s available.
Weather will continue to play a key role in the season, especially with the rainy season approaching. It’s still uncertain if the Central Valley’s lemon sizes will face the same issues. Although some predict a dry winter, Fu said it’s too early to know.
Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet News Hour and The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.