Farmers report cold snap benefited some crops

The cold freeze of 2007 has positively impacted this year's harvest of stone fruits as farmers report that shoppers can expect a plentiful crop. The stone fruit season runs from May through October.

Ken Lee of Ken's Top Notch Produce based in Reedley, Calif., said it's a record year for 2007. "This is a better crop than the last. The cold weather definitely helped the trees produce more fruit this year." Lee, who sells his fruit at the Ventura County Certified Farmers' Markets in Thousand Oaks, will have a generous supply of peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots and cherries.

Linda Raphael of Apkarian Farms in Reedley said the several days of cold weather certainly helped the abundance of fruit that is being seen this year. Raphael, who attends the Thousand Oaks Farmers' Markets on a weekly basis, will have an ample supply of apricots, white/ yellow peaches and raisins.

"Not only are we seeing an ample amount of fruit, but we are seeing it arrive earlier than normal," said Raphael. "It will be a great year for many of our varieties as well as our table grapes."

The Ventura County Certified Farmers' Market Association operates weekly markets with two in Ventura and one in Thousand Oaks.

The Ventura Farmers' Markets are Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays in downtown Ventura from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The Thousand Oaks Market is on the rooftop of the former city hall building at 403 W. Hillcrest Drive from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.