California's pomegranate growers are currently harvesting early varieties, though harvesting of larger fruit is still about a week away. This year's crop is expected to be smaller than last season's, which could result in larger sizes.
“Volumes for early Granada pomegranates are light,” said Keith Wilson with King Fresh Produce LLC in Dinuba, California. “We have just enough fruit to send to some of the bigger markets, but we will start packing the Smith variety next week in good volume.” The Granada is an early variety and is on the small side. The season will really ramp up when harvesting of the Smith variety gets underway.
Sizing on Granadas is mostly around 36s, and prices per carton are in the mid 30s. Wilson believes the market should stay in the mid 30s for larger fruit and mid 20s for smaller fruit once things get going, though those prices will likely fall as the season wears on.
Fruit sizing could skew bigger this season if there's a smaller crop. King Fresh expects to have a continuous supply of pomegranates from the end of the month through December with Granadas, Smiths, Foothills early Wonderfuls and Wonderful varieties.
