Corn at the Peak

The Fourth of July is definitely peak season for California corn. You might even see some selling for as little as five ears for $1. The crop comes from a corn belt that stretches northward from the Imperial Valley (early spring corn) through the San Joaquin Valley (which started harvesting around the first of June this year), through Gilroy and into the Lodi-Stockton area, and the harvest should wrap up by the end of July.

This year’s crop is slightly smaller than in the past, but prices should be moderate, especially this weekend, as corn is a popular grocery store loss leader.

* This could be a boom year for blueberries. The stuff we’re seeing now comes from eastern North Carolina, but picking starts this week for the southern New Jersey crop and farmers claim it will be as much as 30% larger than last year.

* The tomato harvest is winding down in the Imperial Valley but picking up in the rest of Southern California, the San Joaquin Valley and even up into Salinas.

* Stone fruit is picking up. Look for Firebrite, Sparkling June and Spring Red nectarines; Flavorcrest peaches; Santa Rosa and Black Amber plums, and various apricots, mostly coming from the central and southern San Joaquin.