07/21/05 Stone fruit expectations, Pt. 2

07/21/05 Stone fruit expectations, Pt. 2

The cold weather and frost of mid-March and rains in April threatened Washington State's stone fruit crop in its bloom stages. However, a complete switch to ideal weather conditions has resulted in avoidance of mildew and the potential for both above average crop tonnage and good sized fruit. This year's apricot crop is expected to be close to last year's numbers and reports have the fruit size as good. B.J. Thurbly of the Washington State Fruit Commission says peach and nectarine crops could be up slightly from last year. THURBLY: We've seen some beautiful fruit already coming off the trees this early in July, but we're expecting to have peak volume hitting that first week in September and have product available all the way into October. But what Thurbly and other marketers of Northwest peaches and nectarines have to deal with is the volumes and size of California's stone fruit industry. THURLBY: Close to twenty-one million boxes down in California on peaches. About the same on nectarines. So they have a big crop down there and we're going to have to fight for every inch of retail space that we get this year. Thurlby says the marketing key is distinguishing our region's product from the competition. THURBLY: You want to talk to retailers anywhere in the country about how do they offset their stores in relation to their competition and we really believe we've a great program here in Washington Stone Fruit that's tree-ripened, tree-conditioned. It's unique. And it's something that's just a little bit better than is offered from other regions.
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