Press Releases
Important Spring Meeting for California Tree Fruit Committees to be Held April 29
4/18/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sheri Mierau
Reedley, CA (559) 638-8260
REEDLEY, Calif. – April 18, 2008: The full boards and committees of the California Tree Fruit Agreement (CTFA) will meet on Tuesday, April 29 at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. The meetings will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a Joint Meeting of the Peach Commodity Committee, the Nectarine Administrative Committee, the California Tree Fruit Marketing Board, and the California Plum Marketing Board.
Immediately following the Joint Meeting, each committee and board will vote on a number of important issues for the 2008 season, including: the finalized 2008 crop estimates and starting dates by variety, finalized 2008 assessments, the revised strategic plan, as well as the approval of the Marketing Policy Statement.
“The winter and spring weather has been optimal for stone fruit trees in the Central Valley” said Sheri Mierau, President of the CTFA. “While the spring meeting will finalize crop estimates, the preliminary review indicates a crop size similar to last year of approximately 56 million boxes.”
Given the increase from the original estimate of 50.5 million boxes established in February at the winter meetings, it is likely that the board could vote to reduce the assessment rate to reflect the volume increase that is anticipated.
“With a similar crop size again this year, the 2007 Annual Report, which will be available at the spring meeting, will provide some insight to how certain varieties performed.” said Mierau “The more information the industry has, the better it will be at navigating the high’s and low’s of the season.”
The 2007 Annual Report highlights CTFA programs, research projects, as well as acreage, production, total shipments by variety, packout and commercial planting information for peaches, plums and nectarines. The Annual Report will be available for download after April 29 on CTFA’s website at www.eatcaliforniafruit.com located under the Industry section of the site.
The spring meetings are expected to conclude by 4:00 p.m. All interested parties are encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact the California Tree Fruit Agreement in Reedley, California at (559) 638-8260.
Originally established in 1933 and headquartered in Reedley, California, the California Tree Fruit Agreement is funded by and administers marketing order programs on behalf of California's more than 1,100 fresh peach, plum and nectarine growers.
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