By Diego Cruz, Director of Grower Services
As we wrap up another California citrus season, I wanted to provide a brief update on what we’re seeing across the industry and highlight a few resources available to CCM members.
Overall, the season has been solid, though not without challenges. Navels experienced larger fruit sizing and domestic supply than many expected, creating marketing challenges. Many mandarin growers also faced a significant winter fruit drop, though most operations ultimately finished the season strong.
Meanwhile, the Valencia harvest is underway, with roughly 20% of the crop harvested to date. Early reports indicate strong fruit quality and marketability, providing an encouraging start to the summer season. The D2 lemon season is also in full swing and performing well.
In addition to staying connected with crop and market conditions, CCM continues to provide resources to help growers stay informed. Our Weekly Market Memo, distributed every Thursday, includes updates on fruit pricing and trends for members along with industry news, regulatory updates, and summaries of CCM’s advocacy efforts on behalf of California citrus growers.
Our Weather Watch program operates from November through March, providing detailed, location-specific weather updates, including freeze alerts, precipitation forecasts, and other information to help growers make informed decisions. This summer, our Chief Meteorologist is also providing updates on upcoming El Niño conditions. If you are not currently receiving these email reports and would like to be added to the distribution list, please reach out.
As the citrus import season gets underway in California, I also want to remind industry members of our Import Reports available on the CCM website. The dashboard tracks imports of lemons, oranges, grapefruit, clementines, tangerines, and pummelos in real time as they are published by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
Connecting directly with growers remains a key component of CCM’s work. We recently held grower meetings in Sanger (D1), Mecca (D3), and Lindsay (D1), and are now planning a meeting in Ventura for the District 2 coastal region, scheduled for August. These meetings provide an opportunity to share industry updates, discuss grower concerns, and ensure CCM remains focused on the issues that matter most to our members.
I appreciate the opportunity to work with California’s hardworking citrus growers and look forward to continuing to connect with members. If you have questions, concerns, or would like to learn more about any of the resources mentioned above, please don’t hesitate to contact me at diego@cacitrusmutual.com or 559-592-3790.
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