Feijoa gain foothold in California

Press, 9 December 1988, Page 42

Feijoa gain foothold in California

By

JOHN HUTCHISON

San Francisco

Feijoas, introduced from New Zealand in this decade, have gained a foothold in Californian agriculture. The principal packer for the fruit, reporting the sale of 30,000 trays for the 1988 season now ending, estimated that as many as 50,000 trays might go to market in 1989, as more new plantations come into bearing. Mr James Callender of Callender Farms and Nursery Company in Chico, said that the fruit had been bringing SUSB to SUSI2 a tray, wholesale. Retail prices are from SUSO.39 to SUSO.69 each fruit.

“We have about 3000 growers in our association,” he said, “and are placing fresh fruit, juice and jams in large supermarkets.” * )

Total planting in California is estimated at 350 hectares and some growers are producing more than 5000 kg a hectare. He grows four hectares of feijoa and 10 hectares of kiwifruit.

Inferior nursery stock of unpredictable seedlings from New Zealand had been a problem, he said, but good named varieties were replacing them, and more were needed. Mr Alan Heseltine, a New Zealand grower and nurseryman in Chico who brought in feijoas in 1982, had harsh words for New Zealand feijoa nursery exporters, as well as for California growers. He said that his countrymen shipped incorrectly labelled varieties, and said the New Zealanders “should clean up their act.”

' He also severely criticised the Californian growers for poor market-

ing performance.

Mr Callender, however, is optimistic. He said he visited New Zealand every year, consulted and exchanged research findings with growers and with the D.S.I.R. and is host for New Zealanders who visit California.

With California feijoas usually on the market from October to January, and the New Zealand fruit not arriving until April or May, the crops complemented each other, making them more familiar to consumers than a oneseason product.

“Edible” flowers are finding a brisk market in up-market Californian restaurants, largely to add decoration to serving plates. Mr Callender said that the attractive petals could be removed from feijoas without damaging the pollinating function of the blossom, and were saleable for this use. f