Pomegranate Industry Prepares for 6 Million Box Harvest
SONOMA, CA – California pomegranate growers are reporting that the Wonderful variety has now achieved the right color and sugar content for harvest.
Tom Rouse from POM Wonderful says that the company expects to have promotable quantities in a full range of sizes by October 8-10.
He said, “If Mother Nature continues to cooperate, our full-season shipments should match, or slightly exceed last year. We anticipate again setting a new record in the percentage of the total that goes out in our increasingly popular display bins and stackers. Retailers recognize the high-impulse purchase nature of pomegranates and these stand-alone units bring incremental profit to previously unused space in the produce section or by the front-end registers.”
Jeff Simonian of Simonian Fruit Company reports that his company will be starting their Wonderful program at the same time, according to a press release. “Our early varieties have moved smoothly into the distribution channels and we are now ready to ship our principal variety. Like the rest of the industry, we expect to peak on the medium sizes.”
Tom Tjerandsen, Manager of the Pomegranate Council, said, “There are still some low-index consumption markets in the U.S. and as shoppers discover the great taste and substantial nutritional benefits of pomegranates, there will be no problem absorbing the increasing annual volume. Surging export and foodservice demand, along with sales of the increasingly popular arils and juice products, are also helping to move the harvest.”
The Pomegranate Council reports that a census of the principal growers suggests that shipments should exceed six million boxes this season.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more updates as this season progresses.
