High temperatures and humidity for an extended period of time create the perfect conditions for aphids and mildew quality issues. This week temperatures in the California desert regions moved into the 70’s and low 80’s and all desert vendors are seeing increasing mildew and aphid pressure on warm veg items.

After banana bunches are harvested they are placed on hooks on a cable, pulled through the farm by hand and brought into an area outside the packing shed to be washed. They are washing away bugs, dirt and latex from the bananas. Then a worker will go through each bunch of bananas and cut off one banana to test for maturity and core development.

Banana hands size up smaller in the winter and larger in the summer when it is hotter. Winter in the northern hemisphere is summer in the southern hemisphere. Know what to expect when buying bananas, by understanding the growing regions and seasonality.

Artichokes from California's central coast and desert have a beautiful frost kiss. The frost causes the outer layer of the artichoke to turn brown, flake and peel when the temperature reaches below 32 degrees. Although the brownish color may not look pretty, frost kissed artichokes have a more intense nutty flavor.

The California citrus season has been slow to start and the harvest of mandarin varieties such as the Tango and Page continue to be pushed back. Many years of drought as well as extreme hot weather during the growing season has stressed the trees, crippled crops volume and increased issues such as dry cell.

Heavy rain throughout California continues for yet another week. Citrus has certainly been affected with harvest coming to a halt on Clementines, Navels and upcoming Tango crop. The rain has made it cumbersome for the workers and tractors to get out on the muddy ground.

California Family Farms kiwis are grown in the Central San Joaquin Valley and harvested riper for a sweeter than the average kiwi.

Meet Side Hill Citrus grower Rich Ferreira and follow the journey of Side Hill Satsumas from harvest in the Sacramento Foothills to your local retailer. Side Hill grows the best tasting Satsumas in California! Easy to peel, they have the perfect mix of sweetness, tartness and low acidity, with very little pulp, no seeds and taste like they are melting in your mouth. Satsumas have six to seven times as much synephrine, a natural decongestant, as other citrus. Four or five Satsumas have enough synephrine to equal the effect of a Sudafed tablet. Enjoy and stay healthy!

New from Crespo Organic, delicious dried Ataulfo and Round Mango varieties, available year-round. Succulent, ripe, silky smooth mangoes are dried into sweet and chewy snacks in Crespo’s hometown of El Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico.