The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Santa Maria

Quality: Conventional and organic fruit quality is good with some decay and pin rot present.

Volume: Volume is stabilizing, however our general estimates in this region are still expected to decrease through the end of the year.

Pack Counts: Conventional fall crop 22-24. Organic fall crop, 22-24.

Florida

Quality: Fruit quality is good with some green tips due to colder weather.

Volume: Production is anticipated to increase as weather warms.

Pack Counts: 24-28.

Mexico

Quality: Fruit quality is fair with issues of bruising, white shoulders and soft skin.

Volume: Production is steadily increasing, and we are expecting volume to increase through January.

Pack Counts: 16-28 for California Giant label; 28-32 for Berry Sweet packs. 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Mexico

Quality: Conventional and organic quality is good with minor occurrences of shrivel and leaky fruit.

Volume: Volume is steady but has begun its downtrend after passing its first peak.

 

Peru

Quality: Conventional quality is great with minor occurrences of shrivel and leaky fruit.

Volume: Production is slowing down, and we will have a few last shipments arrive sometime in January.

Chile

Quality: Organic quality is great with minor occurrences of shrivel and leaky fruit.

Volume: Peak volume begins towards the middle of January.

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Overall, fruit is looking good with a strong red color, sizes and firmness. 

Volume: Volume for raspberries is steady.

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is fair but improving. 

Volume: Volume for blackberries is steady for the rest of the year.

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SEPC Southern Exposure

March 6 – 8th
Orlando, FL

USHBC/NABC Blueberry Hill Climb

March 24 – 28th
Alexandria, VA

CPMA

April 8 – 10th
Montreal, Canada

IFPA Retail Conference

April 30 – May 1st
Dallas, TX

IFPA Washington Conference

June 9 – 11th
Washington, DC

Organic Produce Summit

July 9 – 11th 
Monterey, CA

IFPA Foodservice Conference

July 31 – August 1st
Monterey, CA

SEPC Southern Innovations

September 10 – 13th
Charlotte, NC

USHBC/NABC Blueberry Convention

October 8 – 10th
Seattle, WA

IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show

October 16 – 18th
Anaheim, CA

A berry nice note from a California Giant Berry Farms shopper:

“I’ve never written to a producer of any food, but I am compelled to let you know that your strawberries are consistently the best we’ve ever had. We’ve eaten so many that I’m surprised we haven’t grown stems. Thank you for making us believe again that fruit can be grown, packaged, and shipped and remain delicious.”

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