Alternative fruits gain ground in Texas agriculture

As Texas fruit growers battle unpredictable chill hours and late spring freezes, a small, but growing, group is turning to lesser-known or “alternative” fruit crops in search of more resilient and profitable options.

Fruits such as figs, blackberries and raspberries continue to draw interest from niche growers. In East Texas, producers are starting to explore the viability of jujube, golden kiwi, mayhaws, pawpaw and elderberries, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists.

These fruits offer unique opportunities and challenges in Texas’ unpredictable climate.

Jujubes adaptable; pomegranates, tough but tricky

Among nontraditional fruits grown in Texas, jujube remains one of the most overlooked, said Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

“Jujube adapts well to Texas soils and climate,” Nesbitt said. “It tolerates drought, handles the heat and thrives in poor soil conditions.”

Despite its hardiness, commercial production remains limited. It’s not an easy plant to work with, being a large-sized and moderately thorny fruit that’s prone to sucker and overgrow an area, Nesbitt said.

More variety testing and reducing the suckering problem could help jujube gain a foothold in Texas fruit production, he added.

Like jujube, pomegranates can endure Texas’ tough conditions, but they remain a niche crop due to cultivation challenges and inconsistent yields, Nesbitt said.

“Pomegranates are fine as a dooryard specimen plant, but they aren’t consistently viable for commercial growers,” he said. “Low fruit set, poor freeze survival and fruit disease susceptibility remain major hurdles.”

Figs are reliable in Central Texas and raspberries a surprise

In Central Texas, figs continue to thrive, said Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Uvalde.

Varieties such as Alma, Celeste and Texas Everbearing perform well in the region.

“Figs have always been among Texas’ more forgiving fruits,” Stein said. “They can handle the heat, require minimal chill and recover well from extreme weather.”

Raspberries may be the most unexpected addition to Texas’ list of alternative fruits. Long considered too delicate for the state’s heat, raspberries are now under evaluation at the Texas A&M AgriLife Viticulture and Fruit Lab in Fredericksburg, where the emphasis has been on variety comparison and use of colored shade fabrics.

“For the first time, we’re seeing real potential for raspberries becoming a viable crop in Texas,” Nesbitt said. “These experimental yields and fruit quality look good, and the growers are highly intrigued.”

High tunnels promising but pricey

Protected growing methods such as seasonal high tunnels and greenhouses offer new hope for expanding fruit production across Texas.

“We’ve seen growers consistently harvest peaches in North Central Texas using high tunnels,” Nesbitt said. “That same approach could benefit crops like strawberries, apricots, blackberries and raspberries where the winter-spring weather transition brings high risk for crop loss from frost and freeze.”

Still, high tunnels come with high up-front costs and their own temperature and pest challenges.

“They aren’t a silver bullet,” he said. “Wind, warm temperature spikes at the wrong time, and static, moderate environment that favors pests like mites and thrips create additional management burdens that should be considered.”

Water is always key

Regardless of the type of fruit, success ultimately depends on access to water.

“Texas horticulture begins and ends with water,” Nesbitt said. “Growers need at least an inch of water per week per acre — sometimes more.”

Alternative fruits won’t replace staples like peaches or blackberries anytime soon. But for growers facing climate uncertainty or exploring niche markets, crops such as jujube, fig and raspberry may offer valuable options.

“These crops won’t succeed everywhere,” Stein said. “But in the right places, with the right strategies, they can add real value.”

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Far West Texas

The district endured a stretch of hot, dry and windy conditions, with highs reaching the upper 90s and 100s. Planting moisture continued to decline, even in irrigated fields. Cotton planting began and was expected to accelerate as end-of-month deadlines approach. Corn and sorghum continued to grow, but excessive heat threatened their development, especially as they begin to flower. Pastures were struggling, with most grass already depleted. Green growth has slowed, and weed populations were thinning. Some mesquite beans started to appear, but signs of moth and worm infestations may impact production — an issue with both risks and benefits. Producers harvested wheat for seed and hay, planted haygrazer and continue feeding livestock and wildlife as rangeland conditions remain strained.

North

Conditions dried out briefly before weekend storms dropped about 2-5 inches of rain in some areas, accompanied by strong winds. Winter wheat was nearing harvest. Corn continued to perform well, although excessive moisture caused a decline in quality in some fields. With a solid spring for grazing, producers were optimistic headed into June. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels ranged from adequate to surplus throughout the district. Winter wheat was in fair to good condition. The rain further boosted pasture and pond conditions. Gardens remained in good shape, and the forecast called for warmer, drier weather ahead. Nuisance flies were present in high numbers, and mosquito populations increased rapidly due to the presence of standing water. Pastures remained in excellent shape, and livestock were in strong condition.

Central

The district experienced a mix of weather conditions this past week. Some areas received 1.5-3 inches of much-needed rain, while others remained dry with above-normal temperatures. The first hay harvest progressed. Crop conditions remain mostly positive. Corn performed well and has begun to tassel in many areas. Grain sorghum was thriving, cotton was emerging nicely where planted, and peanuts showed vigorous growth. Thrips activity was minimal. Wheat and oat harvests continued steadily, though yields were expected to vary widely — from 20 to 70 bushels per acre, with some fields producing shorter crops due to weather stress. Despite the uneven moisture, pastures and rangeland generally stayed green and in good condition, though signs of stress have emerged in drier areas. Livestock remained in good condition. Market prices were strong, especially for lightweight calves and packer cows. Stocker cattle were moved off winter forage pastures. Producers in drier zones continued supplemental feeding.

West Central

Storms moved through the district, bringing 2-6 inches of rain to most areas and causing wind damage in some locations. Scattered showers improved corn. The rainfall filled tanks and replenished topsoil. Earlier green conditions began browning. The wheat harvest was underway, though rainfall delayed progress in some areas. Yields ranged from 35 to 50 bushels per acre, with good test weights reported. Irrigated cotton was planted and emerged. Grain sorghum performed moderately well following recent rains. Haygrazer fields were off to a strong start. Weed pressure remained high, prompting producers to focus on herbicide applications. Pasture forages started to suffer from a lack of rainfall, but recent showers brought slight improvement. Rangeland and livestock conditions were expected to improve with additional moisture. Spring cattle work wound down. Some ranchers were marketing fall-born calves earlier and at lighter weights due to limited forage and moisture shortages heading into summer.

Southwest

Hot, dry and windy conditions continued to worsen drought across the district. Temperatures continued to run above average, with highs ranging from the mid-90s to 100 degrees and morning lows in the low 70s. Some areas received no precipitation, while others reported up to 1 inch. In Gillespie County, a key peach-growing region, large hail fell overnight. It is too early to assess the extent of the damage. Some corn fields were zeroed out and converted to hay. However, other fields performed well, with plants reaching approximately 5 feet tall. Irrigated crops continued to thrive despite the heat. Oat crops that were grazed earlier in the season have since matured. Grasshopper nymphs emerged in pastures and rangelands, and insect pest pressure was expected to increase Livestock continued to be supplemented with additional forages. White-tailed deer and birds remained active. Livestock markets remained high, and overall livestock conditions were fair.

Panhandle

The warmer weather across the district has winter wheat progressing nicely. Overall crops were reported fair to good. Corn and cotton looked good. The first cutting of alfalfa was 95% complete. Wheatlage was rapidly being harvested. Sorghum planting will begin in the next few weeks. Rangeland improved daily due to rain and temperatures. Overall soil moisture was reported short to adequate. Pasture and range conditions were reported from fair to good.

Rolling Plains

Farmers and ranchers in the Rolling Plains continued to benefit from recent rainfall. While most of last week was warm and dry, isolated pop-up storms brought localized damage to wheat fields in parts of the district. Livestock thrived on improved pastures, and cattle prices remained high, supporting producers. In some areas, fields still need time to dry out before equipment can be used, but the wheat harvest has begun sporadically across most counties.

Coastal Bend

High temperatures, windy conditions and little rain caused the amount of topsoil moisture to decline and some of the crops to show a little stress. Some parts of the reporting area received much needed rain. Some areas received at least 1 inch of rain. Corn was irrigated and cotton did well with the sunny, warm days and residual soil moisture in clay soils. Grain sorghum crops showed stress due to lack of rainfall at the emergence of seedheads. There were reports of insect issues with grain sorghum and cotton, but they were controlled. Herbicide applications were made to pastures as wind allowed. Some fertilizer was applied in anticipation of rain. Pastures provided enough forage for cattle. Haying started on a larger basis and will continue unless conditions change due to moisture. Range and pasture conditions remained good with livestock gaining flesh.

South

High temperatures and windy conditions set back soil moisture conditions in most parts of the district, but some showers left scattered rainfall in some areas. Row crop conditions varied from fair to excellent depending on planting dates and rainfall received. Many hay producers were baling hay. Producers harvested wheat across the county. Strawberry harvesting wrapped up. Onion harvesting began in certain parts of the county and should conclude soon. Citrus trees did well with juvenile fruit continuing the maturation process. Cotton crops emerged under irrigation but need rainfall in the next two weeks and peanut planting will soon be completed. Grain sorghum and corn showed signs of heat stress in the afternoon. Forage crops were in the same condition but should make the first cutting soon. Pastures that did not have several days of standing water due to last month’s flood did well. Range conditions improved. Supplementation of beef herds decreased as grass yields improved, and cattle were in good body condition. Some ranchers sold higher numbers than normal due to dry conditions and high prices.

Southeast

Some areas benefited from recent rainfall and moderate temperatures, while others faced challenges due to dry weather. Rice conditions decreased due to dry weather caused by early flooding of fields and drowning the young rice on one end while other fields did not receive enough water. Many producers were harvesting hay, as fields dried enough for equipment access. While some counties hoped for more rainfall to sustain pasture and crop health, others used the dry spell to fertilize or spray fields in preparation for the coming weeks. Soil moisture levels ranged from very short to adequate. Oats were progressing and wheat harvest was underway. Corn, rice, sorghum and soybeans were all planted and emerged. Livestock generally remained in fair to good conditions.

South Plains

Some portions of the area received rain, hail and high winds because of thunderstorms over the weekend. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels returned to fair in areas that had no recent rainfall and experienced high heat over the last two weeks. Residual herbicides in dry ground lost efficacy and weeds were beginning to break through. Most farmers were waiting to plant cotton closer to the June 5 deadline in anticipation of additional moisture. All wheat was cut for hay or was being grazed. Silage was being chopped and hay swathed. Cucumber planting began and seed wheat was drying down. Some cotton seed quality issues were reported. Producers were planning to plant summer forages. The hot and windy conditions dried out pasture grasses and fields, but cattle were in good condition and some were being shipped.