CALIFORNIA BUSINESS MINUTE
Olive Crop
08-18-09
Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.
This year’s forecast for the Central Valley olive crop will be down 25
percent estimated at 50,000 tons, down from last year’s crop of 66,800
tons from last year according to the National Agricultural Statistics
Service.
Of the total production this year, an estimated 44,000 tons will be used
for canning and the remaining 6,000 tons are expected to be harvested for
oil or specialty products.
For the second year in a row the California olive crop is turning out light.
The 2009 crop which was looking promising in early spring has turned disappointing.
There was a heavy bloom and set reported in spring but conditions deteriorated as
the growing season progressed.
The change in the outlook is attributed to spring freezes, extreme temperatures
and water stress to trees. These factors seem to have had the most severe impact
in the San Joaquin Valley and a lesser impact in the Sacramento Valley.
The decline of the 2009 crop has led some growers to evaluate whether harvesting
this year’s crop will be economically feasible.
The Manzanillo and Sevillano olive varieties are expected to produce 76 percent
and 8 percent of the total olive crop, respectively. The remaining 16 percent is
expected to come from all other varieties.
I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.
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