Have you ever noticed when you buy a bag of cherries at the store they are typically all a uniform size? Cherry growers want to make sure the consumer is buying only the highest quality cherry so the cherries go through a machine before being packed to determine the size and quality of the cherry. Cherries have the same size pit regardless of the size of the cherry. The larger the cherry the more flesh on the fruit which demands a premium price.

We are just starting to see organic California Hass avocados on the scene in mid-April due to a cold and rainy winter. The season historically has started as early as January/February in San Diego and works its way north as each area of California finishes their harvest and another area begins.  The beginning of the year is when the California Hass Avocado must pass the minimum allowed level of oil content before being picked. Understanding the geography of where your Hass avocado is grown will help you choose the best flavor.

Formosa Papayas are a large variety with pretty orange flesh, a mild flavor and light fragrant aroma. Papayas contain the super enzyme papain which helps break down protein, aids in digestion and detoxifies the body. Read on to learn how to cut and enjoy papayas, more health benefits and storage and ripening tips.

Covilli’s lime growers are located in two states in Mexico—Veracruz and Yucatán—and both are family-owned operations. Covilli reminds retailers and customers that the juiciest, ready-to-enjoy limes are typically a bit yellow and have some give to the touch.

Storage onions are almost done and we are looking to imports to finish out the season. Onions will be very tight for April, and we will see gaps on red and white onions. It is uncertain to when onions from Mexico will be available. Storage yellow and sweet onions continue out of the Pacific Northwest a little longer. California will start up with new crop onions in May.

A new crop of California Hass avocados is starting. As we eagerly await the California season to get going, we must be patient. Buyers should be aware of the avocado growing cycles and know that they can be disappointed with an early crop. Each year the timing is different, and the weather can have a major impact on how it ripens and availability. 

High temperatures and humidity for an extended period of time create the perfect conditions for aphids and mildew quality issues. We see this happen with organic produce every year when it gets too hot in March in the California desert and again during the warm summer months in the Salinas Valley.

Images of tall, tight bunches of purple-tinged, green and white asparagus in the grocery store signal the arrival of spring. There are only a few organic asparagus growers left in California. For almost 40 years Coastal View Produce has been growing premium quality organic asparagus in the heart of the Salinas Valley. An Earl’s Organic exclusive.

During the winter months many growers move their operations from the Salinas and San Joaquin Valley down to Yuma, Arizona and the California desert. As the weather warms up historically in March, the growing areas move north from Mexico and the California desert to the Salinas Valley.