Trees & Vines

October 22, 2025
Wildfire losses inspire changes in avocado orchards: This reservoir at Brokaw Ranch Co. in Santa Paula holds 1 million gallons of water and is one of two reservoirs on the farm. Because it is gravity fed, it can deliver water even when there’s no electricity. This allows the farm flexibility in how and when to use irrigation.
Photo/Rob McCarthy

October 8, 2025
From the Fields: By Paul Vermeulen, Stanislaus County almond grower and huller: Paul Vermeulen
Photo/Courtesy of Paul Vermeulen

October 8, 2025
Organic seal helps boost 'phenomenal' date market: Workers stand on a picking tower platform as they harvest organic Medjool dates for farmer David Kohl at a Coachella Valley orchard in 2022. The vast majority of dates grown in Riverside County, which dominates U.S. production of the crop, are certified organic. Growers and marketers say organic certification has boosted sales of California dates, which have seen growing demand in recent years.
Photo/Faith Granger

September 24, 2025
Tools to control aggressive red leaf blotch a priority: These photos show different stages of red leaf blotch, which was found throughout the state this year, particularly in almond orchards where growers may not have applied petal fall sprays or had reduced the number of sprays. As the fungal disease progresses, the blotches may become necrotic and eventually cause leaf drop. In severe infections, the disease may reduce yields.
Photos clockwise from upper left/Vicky Boyd; Cameron Zuber; Courtesy of Almond Board of California; Florent Trouillas; Cameron Zuber

September 10, 2025
Prune yields are boom or bust for different orchards: Yields on California farms had mixed results, with the California Prune Board reporting an estimated 65,000 short tons statewide, the same as last year.
Photos/Mark Billingsley

September 10, 2025
Napa vineyards helped douse Pickett Fire: Winegrape grower and volunteer firefighter Johnnie White examines a vineyard in Pope Valley, at the northeast edge of Napa Valley, that was used last month as a fire break to stop the Pickett Fire. Growers in the region have coordinated with Cal Fire to leverage agricultural resources as a fire defense.
Photo/Caleb Hampton