Fall Fruit Update: Organic Pomegranate Supplies Limited

Because of a spring frost that decimated the bloom on its pomegranate trees, Valliwide Marketing only has about 25 percent of its normal crop this fall. While other organic pomegranate growers fared a bit better, it appears that this fall’s crop will be substantially lighter than usual, with limited or no promotional opportunities.

Bill Schene, Sales, Valliwide Marketing

“We are down about 75 percent,” said Bill Schene, one of Valliwide’s salespeople. “We will be very, very light and will only be shipping the Wonderful variety. Our pomegranate grower got hit real bad.”

The Reedley, CA-based company is expected to begin shipping organic pomegranates in late October, and their supplies might only last a month or so. Schene said frost did not hit its organic citrus crop, so they will have that fruit to offer to their customers starting in November.

“We will be very, very light and will only be shipping the Wonderful variety. Our pomegranate grower got hit real bad.” - Bill Schene

Stephen Paul, category manager for Homegrown Organic Farms in Porterville, CA, agreed that there will be “a scarcity of organic pomegranates this year. It’s going to be a quick season. I can’t imagine that we will have any pomegranates past mid-November.”

Stephen Paul, Category Manager, Homegrown Organic Farms

He added that it will be a demand-exceeds-supply situation for the entirety of the season, which Homegrown just started in late September.

Paul did point to some other organic fall fruits that can fill the void. “We have a normal Asian pear crop; in fact, it’s a little bit north of normal,” he said. “We started in August and will continue all the way through Thanksgiving. We should have good steady supplies into December.”

Homegrown Organic Farm's Asian pear

Paul said that just like most other commodities this year, the pricing structure has risen to keep up with rising inflation. “Everything is up a little bit, but it has to be to get a good return for the grower. It’s a balancing act—we need to cover rising costs, but we need to keep the product moving.”

“It’s going to be a quick season. I can’t imagine that we will have any pomegranates past mid-November.” - Stephen Paul

Homegrown also has organic kiwi and persimmons in its fall lineup. “We’re just getting started on the kiwi,” Paul said on September 27, noting that the volume is a bit below average, and supplies will be short lived.

Organic persimmons from Homegrown are expected to be available about the third week of October. Paul said the Hachiya variety will be a bit light, but there appears to be good supplies of the Fuyu variety. “There has been an uptick in organic plantings of persimmons in the valley,” he said. “I think they will be a good option for promoting this fall.”

Homegrown Organic Farm's persimmon

Though for the most part, these organic fall fruits will have solid FOB pricing, Paul said “promotional opportunities are always a possibility. All it takes is one phone call, and we will see what we can do for you!”

“Everything is up a little bit, but it has to be to get a good return for the grower. It’s a balancing act—we need to cover rising costs, but we need to keep the product moving.” - Stephen Paul

Robert Schueller of Melissa’s Produce in Los Angeles had a slightly different take on organic pomegranate supplies. and also offered some organic fall fruit options.

Robert Schueller, Melissa's Produce

“We are going to start our organic pomegranates within two weeks,” Schueller said on September 28.  “We are anticipating a good season and a strong program through February or March. The organic crop is much lighter than the conventional, but I think we will still have good volume.”

He noted that Melissa’s will offer three organic persimmon varieties: Fuyu, Hachiya, and Sweet Pumpkin. He said the organic Sweet Pumpkin variety is a quick-hitter that will only be around for about 4/5 weeks, encompassing most of November.

Melissa's organic Sweet Pumpkin persimmons

Schueller said Melissa’s will also have an organic quince program that will stretch from mid-October to early January, though supplies are limited. Also on the company's fall sales sheet are an assortment of organic specialty apples grown in California, including the Organic Crimson Gold and the Organic Black Arkansas.