News for Retailers

Packouts have not seen the increase that was expected this past week. Peaches should continue in the range of 150,000 containers per day with the possibility of a spike near 200,000. Nectarines will be in the 150,000-175,000 container range, with a possible spike into the 200,000 range, and plums will hover in the 100,000 range before increasing into the 150,000 range by late this week.

The past week brought on the first of the growing area’s famous summer heat, with temperatures up to 105° on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend cooling to the high 90s will give way to temperatures flirting with the century mark once more by mid-week.

Peaches

The almost-full-blushed Rich Lady will continue as the leading peach variety this period, with sizes heavy to 48 and 56. Vista, also full-blushed, will follow on in the second-place spot, peaking in the 50s. Sub-acid Country Sweet will also be available in good volume through the end of the week.

Among Summerwhites®, most of the Ivory Princess variety will be in the box by early in the week. Peento-types Galaxy and Saturn continue this week; packers report that sizing has been good for these two this season. Other Summerwhites® available include White Lady, Babcock, Sierra Snow, Klondike, Ice Princess and Snow Jewel.

Plums

Blackamber, a dark-skinned variety with amber flesh will be the lead variety this week, with sizes heavy to 40s and 50s. It will be followed in the #2 spot by the continuing Yummy®beaut. The historical Santa Rosa is now being harvested as well. Sizes on this longstanding variety tend to be smaller than many of the new varieties, but it more than makes up for its size with great taste. Many consumers used to specify this variety for homemade jams and jelly.

Nectarines

Most growers have just finished picking the Diamond Bright variety. Spring Bright will be the lead variety for the next week or so, with sizes heavy to 64 and 56. Dark-red-blushed sub-acid Honey Blaze will continue as well, as will its relatives Honey Kist and Honey Fire. All three will be available in good volume.

Among Summerwhites®, Arctic Sweet will finish by mid-week. June Pearl™ will lead the pack at the start of the week and have peak size 64, with Kay Pearl™ taking off early in the week and capturing the major variety spot for the second half of the week. Other Summerwhites® will include Ruby Pearl™, Sugar Pearl™, and Arctic Sweet. There will also be a limited supply of peento-type nectarines available, such as Saucer.

Packout Summary
(in thousands of equivalent units)

	Week ending 6/15	Season to Date	Last Year
Summerwhite® Peaches	302.4	1675.3	1154.1
Yellow Peaches	743.9	4363.0	3030.5
Peaches Total	1046.2	6038.3	4184.6
Plums	617.5	1875.9	844.9
Summerwhite® Nectarines	174.2	791.8	261.0
Yellow Nectarines	899.1	3939.2	1993.2
Nectarines Total	1073.2	4731.0	2254.2

Go to the full packout report on the CTFA website
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New PPN Handbook, Guide to the Category, to be Made Available to Retailers Today

The new PPN Handbook is now available. Retailers who subscribe to the PPN Network's News for Retailers newsletter will receive a copy of the book in a special email on Monday, June 18.

The much-requested new volume is designed as an at-hand reference and training tool for retailers and expands on the information available in the new Cal State PPN training site. This completely updated, revised and expanded volume replaces the widely-used Peach, Plum and Nectarine Book, released in 1998.

The PPN Handbook contains sections on peach, plum and nectarine facts, post-harvest practices and standards, fruit handling and ripening, key consumer insights, recommendations for stores and much more. Everything from pack styles to nutrition facts is included. New sections include details on fruit history, guides to peach, plum and nectarine types and season-by-season crop activities.

The new handbook can also be downloaded from the PPN Network Download Center. Two versions of The PPN Handbook, a full-color version (3 MB PDF file) and a “printer-friendly” black-and-white version (1.9 MB PDF file), are available from the PPN Network Download Center's Retail Training section.

To sign up for Download Center access, navigate to the Request a User ID page available from the front page of the Download Center.
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