IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!

Today, I am bringing you some of the category and weather news from around the industry. Check back twice weekly to see where the rain is falling, the sun is shining, and everything in between.

HEAT WAVE IN CALIFORNIA CONTINUES THROUGH SUNDAY

The extreme high temperatures for California and Arizona, which started Wednesday, will continue through Sunday. Temperatures this week in the San Joaquin Valley are averaging 17° above normal for these dates.

What is the significance of these temperatures? Many crops in the San Joaquin Valley are only now coming on line and this heat will speed up the process. Cherries, blueberries, stone fruit, and veg such as broccoli are new crops that should all benefit from the heat.

As we have mentioned in the past, the cold winter in California provided a great number of chilling hours (much more than normal) and the tree and bush crops should be busting at the seams with fruit this year. Please check with shippers to confirm.

Bakersfield at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley had a high yesterday of 97° while today and tomorrow will be 95° and 92° on Sunday.

Fresno in the middle of the valley saw a high of 96° yesterday and 95° today. Weekend highs will be in the low 90°s, but by Monday temperatures will drop down to the low 80°s.

Modesto in the north of the valley had a high of 93° yesterday and will be 91° today and tomorrow.

In the desert region of Coachella, high temperatures yesterday and today are 103° and will be 101° tomorrow and 97°on Sunday. Look for volumes of bell peppers to come on strong along with the other spring crops such as eggplant and tomatoes.

These temperatures should also be good for the upcoming melon crops out of the desert regions of Arizona and California. Please check with shippers on all commodities.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Crops that are at the end of the season will most likely be negatively affected. Citrus in the San Joaquin Valley for example will probably be stressed by these temperatures. Fruit still on the trees for this season's crop could be affected and they also might see some bloom drop for next season’s crop. Please check with shippers.

Another unintended consequence is the rapid melting of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains that line the east side of the San Joaquin Valley. Certain rivers that flow from the mountains can expect flooding.

FLORIDA AND GEORGIA

Georgia will be in the mid-80°s to low 90°s the next ten days, with a chance of a light shower today.

Florida will experience the same temperatures with a greater chance of rain today, up to .35” in certain regions of the state.

Blueberries, peaches, and melons are the newest crops coming from these regions. The spring/summer crop of tomatoes out of northern Florida and southern Georgia is just around the corner.

MEXICO

Things in Mexico are very quiet at the moment. There doesn’t appear to be any weather patterns outside of the norm throughout the country.

Thank you again for your support, and we will be back next week with another update.

Weathermelon