This year’s Australian citrus program will be shorter than expected, but the first boatloads of Navels from Down Under arrived on American shores earlier this month at the port of Long Beach, CA.

By all accounts, quality is outstanding, though supplies are about 70 percent of what importer DNE World Fruit Sales would have liked.

“What we’ve seen so far is very encouraging,” said Stu Monaghan, national sales manager for the Fort Pierce, FL-based firm. “The color is very good, and the taste is exceptional, so the start to the Australian Navels is

WEATHER

Daytime temperatures in Salinas were expected to hover in the mid-60s through July 18 then nudge into the low 70s starting July 19. Overnight lows should remain in the low 50s. There is no threat of rain in the current forecast.

Daytime temperatures in Mendota were uncharacteristically cool in the mid-80s and were expected to rise into the mid-90s beginning July 17. Overnight lows will range in the mid- to upper 50s.

 DEMAND

A changing landscape in the New Jersey produce deal has brought both positives and negatives for the Flaim family, a grower-shipper of New Jersey fruits and vegetables based in Vineland, NJ.

“It seems like more of the smaller farms are closing each year, at least here in New Jersey,” said Ryan Flaim. “Mostly, it’s the older generation retiring and not being replaced by a new generation.”

On the upside, that means more business for those grower-shippers still in the deal.

Bill Nardelli, president of Nardelli Brothers Inc. in Cedarville, NJ, told The Produce News earlier in May that the firm was shipping its full line of New Jersey mixed greens.

“All the wet crops, including beets, leeks, parsleys, cilantro, lettuces and other leafy greens have been shipping since early April,” Mr. Nardelli said May 10. “The weather was a little cool and wet early on, but the quality of all the crops is very good, and we’re getting strong interest on the wet items. These products will run into July.”

“This season is off to a great start with excellent quality and a good market with strong demand,” Michael D’Ottavio, president of M. D’Ottavio Produce Inc. in Vineland, NJ, told The Produce News May 11. “Freight rates from out west are so high that it leaves more room for eastern growers to market their product. If quality and demand stays this strong. we should have a fantastic season in Jersey.”

The slow start for Northwest cherries has Rainier Fruit Co. in Selah, WA, expecting light volume for its initial harvest, but Marketing Director Suzanne Wolter said in mid-May that the company “will have good volume before July 4.”

Ms. Wolter said first loads will likely go out around June 13.

“We’re looking at this as 12 days later than normal, whatever ‘normal’ is,” she said.

Noting that California has also come into its cherry season later than it generally does, Ms. Wolter said the overlap should not be a problem.