As Texas fruit growers battle unpredictable chill hours and late spring freezes, a small, but growing, group is turning to lesserknown 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 winterspring 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.”
TEXAS CROP& WEATHER 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 endof- 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.
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.
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.