Citrus bloom is here! Bloom represents the most critical part of the citrus life cycle. The flowers themselves are incredibly fragile — vulnerable to high winds, frost, disease, and heavy water exposure from irregular irrigation — and growers need to be careful with their operations in order to ensure a healthy, profitable season. Our FGS supply centers offer all the major plant nutrients that growers will need during citrus bloom. Nitrogen is always helpful for a plant’s growth stage, but the success of the flowering stage leans more heavily on micronutrients like phosphorus, zinc, boron, pot ..read more

Heavy rains have soaked California, with many of the state’s key agricultural areas now battling a “catastrophic level of water.” Those words come from Tricia Stever Blattler, executive director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. Blatter estimates that as many as 100,000 acres of San Joaquin Valley farmland are underwater, including cropland used to grow staples like tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Things are equally damp in areas like Watsonville and Salina, where one-fifth of the region’s strawberry farms have been flooded. “When the water recedes, what does the field look like — if it is even ..read more

Avocado season has officially begun in California, although weather events across the state continue to affect the crop in various ways. In San Diego and Riverside counties, where trees produced a large amount of fruit last year, fruit set has been relatively low in 2024. There have also been complications with fruit set in San Luis Obispo, thanks to relatively cool temperatures and high winds during bloom. On the other hand, recent rains across California have drastically reduced the need to irrigate or pump well water, while also providing natural nutrients that benefit not only the fruit it ..read more

It’s been two weeks since the 2024 World Ag Expo came to a close, and Sam Baldivia is already seeing the benefits of another well-attended farm show. “As soon as the expo is over, I’ll wait a few days before reaching out to potential customers that I met there,” he says. “It’s a process of saying, ‘Hi, we talked about irrigation or other business at the farm show. When can we revisit this and take things from there?’ I think the customers really like that contact.” As the Irrigation Sales Manager at Fruit Growers Supply, Baldivia knows the value of good communication and genuine relationships ..read more

Ron Santiago brings a wealth of experience to the pallet industry. With his background as the plant manager at FGS’ pallet division, he’s been pivotal in keeping our company at the forefront of pallet manufacturing in the Central Valley. “The company began its pallet manufacturing venture in the early 70s,” he explains. “However, we are now embarking on a new direction. We are exploring innovative approaches.” He is referring to the company’s recently launched pallet procurement program. While Santiago continues to lead the initiative, he has a new objective in mind. “We have transitioned away ..read more

It’s February in California, which means many almond growers across the state are watching their almond trees blossom. This is a crucial time for the almond crop, marking the end of dormancy and the beginning of springtime bloom. Producing the entirety of America’s commercial almond supply is no easy task, though. In California, where 80% of the entire world’s almonds are grown, plant bug infestations are becoming more common. Leaffooted plant bugs, stink bugs, Navel orangeworm, and carpophilus beetle can all threaten a healthy harvest. Below, we’ll take a quick look at some of the pests that ..read more

It’s that time of year again! The World Ag Expo — the largest farm show not only in America, but also on the entire planet — returns to the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California, on February 13th. The event will run until 4 pm on February 15th. More than 100,000 attendees are expected throughout those three days, along with 1,450 exhibitors. “We come here every year to promote our irrigation designs and installations, showcase the products we sell, and increase our exposure amongst the local growers,” explains Sam Baldivia, the Irrigation Sales Manager at Fruit Growers Supply. “The e ..read more

Across California, dozens of new laws went into effect on New Year’s Day. The new legislation includes health care improvements, an increase of the state’s minimum wage, and a number of laws affecting California’s agricultural operations. For growers in the Golden State, the new policies tackle everything from water rights to pesticide distribution. We’ll spotlight a few of them below. Senate Bill 389 Written by Senator Ben Allen, this bill clarifies the California State Water Resources Control Board’s authority to investigate whether the rights of a water user in California are valid and impo ..read more

There’s rainy weather in the forecast for the Central Valley this week. Those looking to protect their growing operations from flooding and other rain-related disasters should consider making a trip to the closest FGS supply center. We have multiple stores throughout the area, and each one is stocked with weather-appropriate items such as rain gear, sandbags, canopies, and the like. 2023 was an extremely wet year, with California experiencing heavy precipitation throughout the wintertime months and early spring. By mid-March, Los Angeles had already received more than 15 inches of rain — twice ..read more

At FGS, we understand the need to make the most of every drop of water. That’s why we launched our irrigation department over 35 years ago. Since that time, we’ve done much more than develop cutting-edge, custom-designed crop irrigation systems for thousands of our clients — we’ve begun installing those systems ourselves, too, thanks to our in-house labor crew. After all, maintaining proper irrigation in California requires innovation and growth, and we’re proud to be growing alongside our customers. California’s SWEEP program can offer assistance to our customers, too. Governor Brown introduc ..read more