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: Production has now entered in a post-peak phase. Volumes have taken some cuts from storm events.

Pack Counts: Conventional fall crop 24-28. Organic fall crop, 26-32. 

Florida

Quality: Fruit quality is good.

Volume: Production is anticipated to increase as weather warms.

Pack Counts: 24-28.

Mexico

Quality: Fruit quality is good.

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

Pack Counts: 20-28 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: Volumes are steady.

 

Peru

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

Volume: Peru is shipping one final bulk container this week, marking the conclusion of Peruvian production for one variety that we are harvesting, with overall quality reported as acceptable. Our organic grower begins harvesting today to complete an organic bulk container, which is scheduled for shipment next week. This container is expected to arrive during the first week of January.

 

Chile

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

Volume: No arrivals next week for Chile, but we maybe receive a shipment of conventional and organic 6oz mid-December. Arrivals have been pushed back a bit due to some delays in production.

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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