Start of the 2010-11 Navel Season

The 2010-11 navel season has begun.  Picking started the end of October on fukomoto varieties in Kern County with the Washington varieties starting this week.  The fruit shows excellent sugar - acid ratios with color lagging slightly behind.  Current fruit size is smaller than last year with the fruit peaking on 113-88 and 138 sizes.  Quality is excellent and flavor seems to be excellent again this year.  The current rain storms and a lack of labor have caused some delays in harvest but this has allowed the fruit to color up and make for better utilization.