Produce

There are still almost two more months of summer remaining; however there has been much planning and preparation that has been occurring to get the new crop of Washington apples ready for the fall, holiday season and beyond. Trees around the State are boasting many varieties of apples as they mature and ripen before harvest. The Official estimate will be announced August 10th however, currently the industry range of estimates are from a low of 110 to a high of 125 million boxes. …

Red Tomato, the non-profit that brings local, sustainably grown produce to the wholesale market, announces the new crop of “ECO PEACH,” a delicious and healthy choice for those who prefer local fruit grown to stringent environmental standards. The fruit is available at Whole Foods, Balducci’s and other stores throughout the Northeast, starting this week. …

North America’s blueberry crop is so substantial this year that farmers say prices are dropping. That’s after about a decade of rapid expansion of new plantings. …

The world’s largest banana provider is giving Des Moines residents the chance to do something unique this summer with the beloved yellow fruit: Peel the love. …

Backyard Farms, which grows 27 million pounds of tomatoes a year in its greenhouses in Madison, last week began to rip up its entire crop of half a million tomato plants in an effort to eradicate an infestation of white flies. …