Hronis Inc. continues expansion of late Navel program
Hronis Inc. continues expansion of late Navel program
Late navels, and specifically the Barnfield variety, are “really our forte” in the citrus program at Hronis Inc. in Delano, CA, according to Pete Hronis, vice president of sales and marketing.
The timing for the Barnfield variety is March and April. By that time of year, “regular navels are beginning to soften” and to go “the other direction” with regards to quality, but the Barnfields are “still rock-hard.” They are “coveted highly by the export world,” Hronis said. They travel well and hold well. “So this is where we are continuing to grow our program.”
Hronis Inc. has been growing Barnfields for about the past 10 years, he said.
Pete HronisThe company starts its Navel season around Thanksgiving. That is later than many Navel shippers in the Central Valley, but “we are still in grapes heavily” until that time, “and I generally try to finish the grapes. Then we transition into citrus,” Hronis said.
The company’s earliest Navel variety is Early Beck. Those are followed by Fisher, Atwood and Washington, all “regular Navels,” he said. “And then, on the late Navels, it is the Barnfield.”
On the Navels, “it definitely looks like the size is up this year,” Hronis said. “Last year we peaked on 113s.” Currently, it was looking like peak sizes would be 72s and 88s.
Hronis Inc. also grows and packs several other citrus varieties, including Minneola Tangelos. “We expect those the early part of January,” he said. As with navels this season, those “look to be up in size.”
New plantings coming into production this year for Hronis Inc. include two citrus varieties that are new to the company’s product line. They are Cara Caras and Blood oranges.
The company is continuing to expand its bag programs for domestic chain business, Hronis said. “That is a growing segment for us.”