Fruit is smaller this year

Updated
Fruit Is Smaller This Year
Fruit Is Smaller This Year


This summer, fruit is a little bit smaller and probably tastes a bit better, too.

The ongoing drought in California, now in its fourth year, is partially to blame for smaller peaches, mangoes and plums. Irrigation restrictions are forcing farmers to use substantially less water than usual, sometimes up to 20 to 30 percent less than in years past.

Less water means smaller fruit.

The winter, which was particularly short and warm, was likely a determinative factor when accounting for this year's runt crop and its increased sweetness.

The size of most of America's fruit is set within the first few weeks of growth, and this time it went through its developmental stages much faster than usual.

Kevin Day, a pomologist who has studied tree fruit for over 30 years, put it this way, "The pumps that pump sugar later in the season run at the same rate no matter how big the fruit is...[and] instead of filling a big reservoir, they're filling a smaller reservoir, so naturally the fruit tastes sweeter."

Unfortunately, increased sweetness isn't translating into better sales. Many farmers are losing money because shoppers apparently prefer the aesthetic feel of larger fruit.

See photos from the drought in California:

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