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Only ten days after being grafting, the new wood is already showing signs of growth. The graft taking means there was a clean seal, good wood, and that no water seeped into the exposed limb. Below are a few pictures of the growth on the same trees you saw being grafted in the previous blog.

We do the best we can every year to pick out new varieties at the nursery, mostly using gut feeling about how these varieties will work in our lineup. For whatever reason, they don’t always work out. Sometimes they revert back to an old gene, not producing the way we thought they would. Other times depending on the soil and weather conditions, that particular variety just doesn’t take off in its environment. There isn’t a lot you can do for the tree if this is the case, but what we can do if the tree is young enough, is graft a new variety to that root stock.
To graft a tree over from one variety to another you must first expose all but one limb (see picture above). Peaches and Nectarines are interchangeable while plums can only be grafted to plum trees.
Once the limbs are exposed you have a few hours to a few days to graft depending on weather conditions (the dryer the better).
Several notches are then sawed into each freshly cut limb.
Wood that was gathered during the fall pruning season is then cut into small pieces and inserted into the slots. The wood has been stored in our cold storage since November and kept moist by coating it with sawdust.
The final step is to coat the exposed ends with tree seal to ensure that no moisture gets in and rots the grafts.
Our grafting crew.
When it rains it pours, and it definitely poured in the Valley. For seven straight days the forecast was rain with little chance of anything else. Between Monday and Friday of last week HMC received 2.53 inches of rain.
Today the current rainfall total: 6.57” for year-to-date as of January 26th 2009 – 2010
Total as of this date last year: 3.90” for year-to-date as of January 26th 2008 – 2009
Which means we are currently 168% ahead of last years’ total rainfall at this time.
So far it has been a farmer’s winter, with a lot of rain and an average amount of chill hours on the trees. The wood on the branches is looking very healthy, and pruning is moving along as scheduled.
Below are a few pictures of the winter trees, the rain, and our view from HMC.



WEATHER UPDATE: 2 inches of rain today in the Valley! Will have severe affects on Table Grapes!
Autumn Royal: Black Seedless Grape
Available now till the end of October
Pack styles: 19# Corrugated 19# Plastic 8/2# Clamshell
Berries are large averaging 13’s and 14’s, flavor is sweet, crisp and juicy.
Thompson: Green Seedless Grape
Available now till the end of October
Pack styles: 16# Plastic
Thompsons are very well attached and berries are green. Grapes are crisp and are averaging over 1 inch in length and 18 - 20 brix.
Red Globe: Red Seeded Grape
Available now till the end of October
Pack styles: 21# Plain Pack 19# Corrugated 19# Plastic 19# Styro
Globes are averaging 15’s to 1 inch in size, with full color and nice finish.

It is finally beginning to feel like fall. Tree fruit is trickling out as the last boxes are shipped from our warehouse. The temperature dropped from 100 degree highs to 80 degrees overnight. And grapes are in full production, with the introduction of our Gobbl’n Brand black grape. Below are a few picture recaps of the season. Thank you for your support throughout the summer. Hopefully we’ll see you at the PMA.

Tree Fruit
Tree fruit is still going strong into this first week of September. The way we see it, in about two weeks Nectarines, Whites, and Black plums should begin to taper off. Where Peaches and Red Plums should start to slow down about 2 weeks after that. Our Holiday red plums are having their best year yet averaging 17 brix in every box.
Table Grapes
Table Grapes are streaming in steadily day after day. We are now heavy into Thompsons and have begun packing our 16 # Plastic Box. As for Red Seedless Grapes, we are right in the middle of Crimsons, and beginning to get good volume on Scarlet Royals. Our newest addition this year is the Vintage red seedless. A sweet grape that is similar in flavor to Crimson and similar in sizing to a Scarlet Royal. Our last Summer Royal was shipped out this week, right in time to start the Autumn Royal black grapes.
Now Available
Peaches Nectarines Whites Red Plums Black Plums
Thompsons Crimsons Scarlet Royals Vintage Reds Autumn Royal
Coming Soon
Red Globes Gobbl’n Grapes
Tree Fruit
Peaches Peach production will slow down a bit this week. As of right now we are looking to pick the last peach of the season approximately one month from now. If weather permits, peaches should be available from HMC until at least the 3rd week in September. We expect peach quality and flavor to remain strong until the end.
Nectarines Nectarines will be available from HMC from now until the 3rd week in September. A steady stream of Nectarines are coming in everyday and this trend will continue until the last variety of the season, September Free.
Plums Plums continue to remain a hot commodity. The black plums should ease up a little this week with Black Kats coming into production. Red plums on the other had will stay tight until our proprietary Holiday red plum enters the marketplace at the beginning of September.
Table Grapes
Thompsons
Size – Larges are averaging 12’s and 13’s Availability – Now until the end of October Pack style – Corrugated, plastic and Clamshell Description – Large, tight bunches, great taste, good hold and bright green color
Crimsons
Size – Larges are averaging 11’s and 12’s Availability – Now until the end of August Pack Style – Corrugated, Plastic and Clamshell Description – Great taste and good color
Summer Royal
Size – Larges are averaging 11’s and 12’s Availability – Now until the end of August Pack Style – Corrugated, Plastic and Clamshells Description – Sweet, round berries
Scarlet Royal
Size – Larges are averaging 12’s and 13’s Availability – Now until the end of August Pack Style – Corrugated, Plastic and Styro Description – Sweet flavor, with large berries, tight bunches and good color
A short recap of last week…
There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. As July comes to a close and August begins, everyone feels that we’ve hit our stride on this last downhill push of the season. The fruit is the best it’s been all season, and our later varieties are opening up really nice end of season opportunities. After this next week, peaches, nectarines and plums will be available in abundance through mid September. We are just out of the starting block with grapes, but so far we’ve been off to a good start. For reds, our Flames were mostly 12’s and 13/16th’s, and our first pick of Crimsons shows good color and great flavor. Thompsons started on Tuesday and will be available from now until the end of October. Summer Royal have good size and eat really well. HMC Champagne grapes have great consistent quality.
Promotional Opportunities from HMC Farms
Champagne Grapes – Available now until mid September
HMC Proprietary Holiday Red Plums – Available September through mid October
Tree Fruit
Record setting heat is finally behind us as we cool off into the 90’s towards the end of this week. The heat wave has slowed production a little, but the harvest that is coming off is still strong.
Varieties Available
Peach - Kaweah, Henry II & Summer Lady Nectarine - HMC Nectarine & Summer Fire White Peach - Snow Princess & Snow King White Nectarines - Arctic Blaze & August Pearl Red Plum - Fortune & Grand Rosa Black Plum - Friar & Royal Diamonds Pluots - Dapple Dandy
Table Grapes
Table grapes are off to a great start this summer. Quality has been great, color is solid and the taste is sweet. This trend with our flames is sure to continue into our green, black, and red grapes. One of the things that sets us apart in the grape market is our abundance of specialty Champagne and Niabell grapes.
Varieties and Pack Styles Available
Champagne - 16/1# Clamshells Flames - Corrugated, Styro, Plastic & Clams Summer Royal - Corrugated, Styro & Clams

Flame Table Grapes
- Jumbo and Large size grapes available
- Good size, full color, sweet, crisp berries
- Packed in a 19# Corrugated Euro, 19# Styro, and a 19# Plastic box
Champagne Table Grapes
- Munchkyn Brand Champagne Grapes
- Super sweet small berries
- 16/1# Clamshells per box
Coming Soon
- Summer Royal – 7/17
- Thompson Seedless – 7/24
- Red Globes – 8/15
- Princess – 8/15
- Niabell – 8/15
- Scarlett Royal – 8/15
- Crimson – 8/20
- Vintage Red – 9/5
- Goblin Grapes – 10/1
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