Spring is trying to break through here in California. The peach blossom has been a staggered one punctuated with weather that is more reminiscent of the Midwest--thunder and lightning storms, heavy hail and snow in some of our lowest elevations. As usual, Mother Nature remains unpredictable and has provided lots of entertainment for our elementary school children who have spent many a recess fully bundled up.

As growers, we do what we do for the children:   ours, our grandchildren and the millions of school children across the United States.   Although we need to flex with the whims of any season, the resolve and the commitment of peach growers is singular:   to produce the finest peaches in the world, pack them in the safest, most convenient forms (cans, jars, plastic bags) and deliver them to our number-one market--schools--so our number-one consumers can enjoy the fruits of our labor year-round.

As of late, there's been some discussion about the merits of serving fresh fruit instead of canned, frozen or dried. We at the California Cling Peach Board fully support the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, in all forms, across this great nation's breakfast and lunch programs. Although "5-A-Day" awareness has increased, kids sadly are still not getting enough fruit in their diets. And we know, through our decades of experience, that when kids eat and enjoy canned peaches or any of the other fruits that are grown and packed right here in our bountiful state, they are much more likely to choose a healthy fruit as a snack over a sugary, highly-marketed, cartoon-adorned item.

Our third- and fourth-generation grower families have a long history of "putting up" the summer's fruit in mason jars so the family and its neighbors could enjoy it for those nine months when fresh peaches were not available. This tradition makes good economic and nutrition sense. Today, school communities can greatly benefit from the canning tradition as they serve "preserved" peaches year-round.

As always, I would like to thank you for your continued interest in California Cling Peaches as well as your ongoing commitment to maintaining the health of students.

Thanks again,

Sarb Johl, Chairman

Capeach@echopr.com