Bruising, swelling, rotting crops empty store supplies

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Apr 12, 2006 | by Cheryl Winkelman, STAFF WRITER

The relentless rains are taking their toll on the San Joaquin Valleys produce and growers are looking forward to blue skies and warm weather.

A number of key crops -- including asparagus and almonds -- are growing slower than normal this year, though the extent of the damage depends on how the weather cooperates in the coming months, said Dave Kranz, a spokesman with the California Farm Bureau Federation.

While strawberries are ready to be harvested, the rain can damage them or cause the berries to swell, Kranzl said.

Though strawberry plants can generate new berries in a relatively short period of time, Kranz added that consumers may see less of the fruit on grocers shelves.

Navel oranges, grown in the southern San Joaquin Valley, are not damaged by rain but bruise easily if touched when wet. Growers have been late to pick them.

Since Feb. 10, several freezes have hurt almond crops, said Scott Hudson, San Joaquin Countys agricultural commissioner.

Almonds need to be pollinated, but bees are not active in cold weather.

The trees also are experiencing blossom rot because of all the moisture from the rain. As a result, almond crops may not be as large this year.

Asparagus production is significantly down, as well, Hudson said. The spears, which are cut off and harvested, grow on crowns, but, if its very cold, regrowth is slow, Hudson said.

And crops that are blossoming later than usual, such as cherries, may be harvested late. The danger is a rainy -- and warm -- fall, when fungus problems could cause crop disease.

Even grapes have felt Mother Natures wrath. A levee break in the on the Mokelumne River near Woodbridge flooded about 40 acres of vineyards with 6 feet of water throughout the weekend.

What the area desperately needs is dry weather.

The crops we have here arent conducive to cold, wet weather, Hudson said. If things dry out relatively soon, that will lessen the damage.

To contact Cheryl Winkelman, call (209) 832-6144 or cwinkelman@trivalleyherald.com.