The crop was stressed early in the season by hot weather. By September, the temperatures were more seasonable which allowed the crop to recover. Harvest is on schedule. Nationally, fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 5,800 acres, down 3 percent from last year, but 21 percent greater than 1996. California growers welcomed the recent cooler weather.
Picking is active in the Salinas Valley and quality is good.
Nationally, acreage for fall harvest is estimated at 38,200 acres, up 2 percent from last year and 1 percent more than 1996. In California, recent cooler temperatures helped relieve the stress of extremely hot temperatures early in the season. Harvest is on schedule with few problems reported. In Florida, conditions were dry at the beginning of the season, but tropical waves passing over the Peninsula during September brought rain to the area. Picking will begin in the Quincy area by early October.