Food & Farm News

» April 11, 2012 «

Artichokes reach peak of season

April and May make up the peak season for the green globe variety of artichoke. Grown in the Castroville region, green globes will star in retail promotions this month. As a result, shoppers should see good deals on artichokes in their grocery stores. Farm groups say consecutive cold nights in Castroville led some of the artichokes to be "frost kissed." The cold turns the outer layer brown, but growers say these artichokes can have a more intense flavor. 

Ample avocado supplies soften prices

Supplies of California-grown avocados are becoming available in limited volumes, and when added to the supply of imported avocados, the result should be favorable prices for consumers. The availability of California avocados should ramp up this month and continue to increase through the spring and summer.  The California Avocado Commission says production could be 30 percent higher than last season.

Mushroom growers improve production

Thanks in part to improved efficiency, growers in the US saw the fourth-highest volume of mushrooms produced last year, according to an annual crop report. Today, each square foot used to grow mushrooms produces more than six pounds of fungi. That's double the amount grown per square foot just two decades ago. California is the second leading producer of mushrooms, providing 14 percent of the national total.

Belgians raise their glasses to California wines

Younger Belgians are showing increasing interest in California wine … and the US Agriculture Department and the Wine Institute want to make sure that there is plenty available to them. The USDA reports that representatives brought 200 California wines to Belgium for a tasting event. The guests included Belgian importers, distributors and reporters, who spent the evening tasting wine and learning about the variety California has to offer