The San Benito County apple harvest began two to three weeks
late in 2006, the latest the harvest has been in more than 20
years, said Anthony Botelho, co-owner of B
&
amp;P Orchards.
The San Benito County apple harvest began two to three weeks late in 2006, the latest the harvest has been in more than 20 years, said Anthony Botelho, co-owner of B&P Orchards.
The late start is a result of record-breaking high temperatures in February and an unseasonably wet and cool spring, Botelho said. Crop quality and labor shortages are also concerns. Apple trees bloomed two weeks late, causing the apple crop to mature two weeks late as well, grower Ken Perry said.
“This is one of the oddest years I’ve ever seen,” San Benito County Agriculture Commissioner Paul Matulich said.
Botelho grows four varieties, ready for harvest in the following order: Red Delicious, Newtown Pippins, Granny Smith and his favorite, Fuji. This year, the green Newtown Pippins were ready for harvest before the Red Delicious variety, Matulich said.
The 2006 harvest has had smaller apples, Perry said. Record-breaking temperatures in July sunburned some of the crop, causing concern about storage issues among growers, Botelho said.
B&P Orchards’ 2006 crop quality is down 20 percent from normal, Botelho said.
“Everybody’s affected,” San Benito County Farm Bureau President Paul Hain said. “That’s just the way agriculture is. You certainly can’t control mother nature.”
San Benito County produced 8,408 tons of apples in 2005, bringing in $2.9 million; and 6,885 tons in 2004, bringing in $1.5 million, according to crop reports. Matulich estimated the 2006 crop will yield approximately 6,300 tons, bringing San Benito County growers $1.4 million, the lowest totals of the past five years.
With a late season, many growers are having problems finding pickers. B&P Orchards will harvest four different varieties, taking a break after harvesting the Red Delicious and Newtown Pippins.
“So far we’ve been okay,” Perry said. “I’m kind of worried about stopping for a week.”
Botelho and Perry send most of their crop to the 138-year-old S. Martinelli & Company in Watsonville to be processed for apple juice, sparkling apple juice and sparkling cider. In fact, 95 percent of the 2006 crop will be sent to Martinelli for juicing, Matulich said.
“Martinelli pretty much calls the shots,” Matulich said. “Martinelli has kept the apple business alive in the area the past couple of years.”
Apples picked for juicing can be harvested quickly and handled more rapidly.
Pickers can harvest six to seven bins of juicing apples per day. Fresh market apples, however, require more intensive care and more pickers. Workers typically pick less than two bins of fresh market apples per day, Perry said.
“They’re throwing them around like baseballs right now,” Perry said of the juicing apples.
Perry said he is not sure if they will have enough labor to send any of the Granny Smith apples they will harvest to fresh market. B&P Orchards has 65 pickers, but would have to double its staff to get apples to fresh market.
Despite lower crop numbers, apples are one of the sturdier fruit and nut tree crops in San Benito County. Other fruits and nuts have suffered more from the hot 2006 weather.
“We’re not going to complain compared to apricots and walnuts,” Botelho said.
Michael van Cassell covers police and courts for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 335.
