Growers and Grocers

What’s up in California ag news? The California Farm Bureau Federation posts a daily news feed that keeps subscribers in the loop. California’s Central Valley is one of the largest growing regions in the country, so the state’s ag reports affect consumers throughout the country.

• The weather damage throughout the state has prompted 31 of California’s 58 counties to apply for federal disaster relief. Alfalfa, tree fruits, and “vegetables” have all been mentioned, and current estimates put the loss at $300 million.
• Wheat prices are way up, thanks to a worldwide drop in wheat production. That’s good news for farmers, who can now expect somewhere in the neighborhood of $150/ton instead of last year’s $90/ton.
• Maybe you heard the news about an increase in tomato production this year, but don’t count your tomato sauce jars before you can. The spring rains caused problems for plants, and now the California Tomato Growers Association is backing down its estimates a bit.