HMC News – July 2025
The start of the California grapes season has been unlike one we can remember in recent history. Due to the minimal amount of triple digit degree days this summer, and cooler than normal nights over the last month and a half, we are seeing color move faster than we have in past summers. This strange but welcome start means we are now waiting for the sugar levels and flavor to catch up with the color, when almost always the opposite is true. While we are still trending about 5-7 days early, the color gave us false hope about two weeks ago that we might be even further ahead at this time.
Crop Update: Tree fruit harvest continues in all commodities. We are continuing to collect data in the field using Xlsor. The hope is that this data will help us determine harvest dates on varieties more accurately weeks before harvest.
We have hit the halfway mark in our tree fruit harvest. To date the weather remains ideal, and the eating quality is some of the best we’ve seen. Our Plumsicles™ continue to receive rave reviews with messages coming in from fans throughout the country. Table grape harvest continues to ramp up with our Belcanto and Ivory green seedless, our Torch and Flame red seedless, and our Sweet Bond black grapes. Solbrio, Candy Snap, and Bebop are right around the corner.
Crop Update: Tree fruit harvest continues in all commodities. Now is when we evaluate our
varieties and plan for future plantings. Table grapes continue to mature.
The weather continues to be about ideal for our orchards and vineyards. This “mild” summer has encouraged faster than normal color movement on the grapes. This is a welcome change from years past when it was difficult for color to develop in the excessively high heat. This year, once our grapes reach the desired brix, and the acid levels have dropped, we will be able to go in and harvest the crop. We are currently harvesting Torch and Flame red seedless, with Bebop and Solbrio (pictured above) right around the corner. It appears Krissy red seedless will be the next variety available after Bebop. We are most of the way through our Belcanto harvest and are continuing to pick our Ivory green seedless in a light way.
Crop Update: Tree fruit harvest continues in all commodities. Post-harvest pruning is currently underway in varieties that were picked earlier this summer. We are topping, skirting, and hedging the trees, which will help create a robust tree next summer.
July may be coming to an end, but summer isn’t over yet. Tree fruit is still in full swing and in the case of peaches and plums will continue into October. What is unique about this year is the timing of picks and the extra one to two days between first and second picks. This is where new tools like the XLSOR fruit monitoring technology will be incredibly helpful in the future. As the program continues to learn our varieties, the dry matter and chlorophyll content will give us another tool to help predict harvest dates and fruit quality in future seasons. In a commodity that can go from ripe to overripe overnight, tools like these are essential to help harvest our crop to the fullest.
Crop Update: Grape harvest continues with Ivory and Timpson green seedless, Solbrio black seedless, and Bebop and Torch red seedless. As will tree fruit, all varieties are starting their harvest slightly earlier than last year.