The California Canning Peach Association board ratified a price increase for cling peaches in December that sets the highest price ever received by growers for ‘A’ grade cling peaches. The dollar increase from last year is the greatest jump in prices in a single year in the history of the crop as well. The agreement with the canneries in California also includes an increase in the value paid for fruit that is smaller or has other defects. The result of this will be to allow growers to sort less fruit out that would normally go on the ground or in a sort-out bin. This grade change will have an impact on juice grade pricing in California.
