- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The value of Riverside County citrus crops dropped 25 percent in one year, from $135.7 million in 2008 to $101.6 million in 2009, according to an article in the Riverside Press-Enterprise. The story credits the growth of the wine industry in Temecula for the decline in citrus production.
A farmer told reporter Jeff Horseman it makes more sense to grow citrus in California's San Joaquin Valley, where land and water are cheaper, or to import the fruit from other countries - such as Mexico and South America - where fewer regulations cut into profits.
The story said...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Yearly per capita consumption of grapefruit has been on a steady decline since the late 1970s, according to an article in the Riverside Press-Enterprise. To boost the fruit's popularity and keep the industry in business, growers in Southern California have organized a cooperative and hired PR expert Kari Birdseye to put together a marketing program.
In 1976, Americans ate almost 9 pounds of grapefruit per year. As a late-baby boomer, that doesn't come as a big surprise to me. The popular "grapefruit diet" was one of the first weight-loss fads I can remember. By 2007, per capita consumption dropped to 2.76 pounds, the article...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Because of anticipated inclement weather, the producers of the TV program California Country canceled their visit to the UC Lindcove Research and Extension Center's annual citrus tasting on Friday, which this year featured the dedication of two new facilities and the celebration of the facility's 50th anniversary.
After a bitter cold week and a night of heavy rain, the weather on Friday turned mild and dry for the well-attended and notable occasion. And even though the California television magazine wasn't present, the festivities were covered by a TV crew that traveled all the way from Sinaloa, Mexico.Reporter Juan Francisco Sotomayor Valdéz and a photographer...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Newspapers up and down the state are covering the cold storm system approaching California. In addition to reporting the weather, Sacramento Bee reporter Loretta Kalb took the time yesterday to check on the impact of the storm on California citrus.
Even though it was Sunday afternoon, UC Cooperative Extension Butte County farm advisor Joe Connell contacted Kalb to tell her citrus crops should emerge with little or no damage from the week's storm.
"As far as citrus goes, for the naval orange, it takes about 3.5 hours at 26 degrees for the first orange to...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
One week from today, the University of California Lindcove Research and Extension Center will combine its annual citrus tasting with a laboratory dedication and a 50th anniversary celebration, an event that will be covered by California Country. California Country is a 30-minute weekly television broadcast produced by the California Farm Bureau Federation about the people, places and lifestyles that have made California the nation's largest food-producing state, according to its Web site. Producers will be in the area for several days collecting information for its program about the significant benefits of the Lindcove facility to the California...