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the limited adaptability of apricots was prob- ably responsible for this earlier acreage expansion and its subsequent decline. Then, in the early 1960s, San Joaquin acreage expanded once again, partially offsetting the long decline in Central Coast acreage. Along with this change in location of apricot acreage came a major shift in its varietal composition In the 1950s, 80 percent of the state's crop was Blenheim (Royal), a firm, round, well -colored, highly -flavored fruit. The Tildon variety increased its share from 13 percent in 1950 to almost half in the 19708, because it is better adapted to the high inland temperatures of the San Joaquin Val- ley. Also, a major canning problem occurred in the 1970s with Blenheime but not with Tildons--an enzyme resulted in softened mushy fruit. The Tildon has generally higher yields than Blenheim, but is also lighter in color, flatter in shape, only fair in fresh taste, rather bland in canned taste, with a poor dry- ing ratio. Nearly all the San Joaquin Valley TSldons are canned. Recently, several promis- ing new varieties have been introduced in the San Joaquin Valley, e.g., Patterson, as a pos- sible replacement for Tildon, and Castleton, which may claim a reasonable place on the fresh market. Acreage in the Sacramento Valley (chiefly at Winters and Fairfield) has declined rather gradually dunng the entire postwar period. This area is an early shipping district characterized by relatively warm spring nights that ripen fruit before the arrival of high summer temperatures. About one-half of California's fresh apricots come from the Winters area in Yolo and Solano counties. They are marketed in late May and early June. Lately, an increasing share of this area's crop is being dried since it is one of the few remaining areas where the excellent -for - drying Blenheims are still grown. Southern California, a major producer of apricots before 1930, is no longer of commen cial importance. Pnncipal southern Califor- nia districts were once near Hemet (Riverside County) and in southeastern Ventura County near Moorpark. 27 pends in Acreage, Yields, and Production Encouraged by high grower returns for dried fruit in export markets, apricot acreage increased in the 1920s to an all time high of 83,000 bearing acres in 1928, but it has since declined markedly. The rate of decline increased as a result of reduced plantings during the war years and extensive pulling of older trees. However, an increase in new plantings in the late 1950s offset pullings, resulting in acreage stabilizing at about 37,000 bearing acres during much of the 1960s (Figure 12A). More recently, the decline in per capita consumption of apricots in all forms is the result in part of increased competition from other fruits. Static and even decreasing grower returns characterize the more recent period, resulting in further reductions in apricot acreage. Most of this divestment occurred in the Central Coast region, but San Joaquin Valley bearing acreage also appears to have peaked in the late 1970s and is now somewhat lower 'Fig- ure 11). Apricot yields vary greatly from year to year. Alternate bearing is partly responsible for this, as is unfavorable weather during blossoming or ripening. A fruit yield varia bility study at the University of California in 1961 found that apricots ranked 17th out of 19 fruits and nuts in an index of yield depen dability. (Only avocados and olives were found to be more variable.) These wide fluctuations can be seen in Figure 12B, rang- ing from highs of about 6.5 tons per acre to lows of 3 tons or less. For example, the 1983 crop was down because of poor pollination due to rain during the blooming period. The yield trend through these ups and downs was some- what upward through the 1950s as commer- cial acreage became more concentrated in better -suited areas. Since the early 1960s, the trend appears nearly horizontal with the state average at about 5 tons an acre. Yields of better than 10 tons per acre, however, are average in some orchards on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley; those in Stanislaus County are generally highest in the state. Total production from year to year strongly reflects the variation in yield, and the historical trend in production has a pro- nounced downward tilt reflecting the con- tinual decrease in bearing apricot acreage in California. v~: :.a