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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2017)
18 CapitalPress.com April 14, 2017 Apricots enjoy centuries of popularity For the Capital Press The apricot is one of the “oldest” crops in California, according to the Apricot Pro- ducers of California. “The history of the Cali- fornia apricot started 4,000 years ago when it was discov- ered on the mountain slopes of China,” said producer’s president Bill Ferreira. “From there this ancient fruit found its way across the Persian Empire to the Mediterranean. Spanish explorers introduced the apricot to California in the 18th century.” In 1792 the first major apricot crop was produced in California. By 1920, the Cal- ifornia apricot was flourish- $24,950 Flory 480 Harvester, excellent condition $17,950 Jack Rabbit Conveyor Cart, excellent ing in the Santa Clara Valley. Eventually California apricot farms found their way to the San Joaquin Valley. Today, about 150 growers raise 10,200 acres of apricots in the state. About 70 percent of the crop is processed as canned or frozen — the ma- jority of frozen apricots are used for jams and preserves — dried or turned into baby food. The balance sold fresh. Over 70 percent of the to- tal tonnage consists of one variety, the Patterson, with the balance a mix of other variet- ies for fresh market. They are canned in Modesto and Lodi, frozen in Watsonville and At- water, dried in Patterson and Sanger, and a lesser amount in Hollister. Baby food is pro- cessed in Medford, Ore. “Apricots are very fragile; they require a large amount of hand labor to prune, thin and harvest,” Ferreira said. “The blooms are greatly impacted by rains at bloom time, the fruit by rains at harvest.” Because apricots are har- vested early, few pests attack them. The twig borer is the main pest, and most growers control them by the use of pheromone confusion strips. Thus apricots require little or no pesticide, just fungicide at bloom time, he said. Fresh market harvest be- gins the end of April, with apricots for processing har- vested in June. By the begin- ning of July, harvest is com- pleted. $44,950 $19,950 Flory 7480 Self Propelled Harvester, excellent Flory 1180 Conveyor Cart, like new $24,950 $44,950 Weiss-McNair 9800 Harvester, excellent 2008 Orchard-Rite Shaker, runs great HENRY COLOMBO EQUIPMENT 209-531-8398 • henry@colomboequipment.com www.colomboequipment.com • Free Delivery California-Oregon ONV17-4/#18 By JULIA HOLLISTER Row Mulch Spreaders For All Growers ONV17-7/#7 Whatcom Manufacturing’s Mulch Spreaders are specifically engineered for fast, easy and precise mulch application. Whether it’s for moisture evaporation, weed control, amendments for enhancing soil tilth, the Whatcom Manufacturing Mulch Spreader saves time and money. Created with your needs in mind, they are available in multiple sizes with numerous options and features. They are built to accommodate all applications using mulch, sawdust shaving, manure, solids, gyspum, organic compost, wood chips, etc. Whatcom Manufacturing Inc. Lynden, WA 360-354-3094 www.whatcommfg.com info@whatcommfg.com ONV17-4/#8
