The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Oxnard

Quality: Conventional quality is good. Coloring is 90%+ with occurrences of pinrot due to recent rains. Crews are focused on dropping subpar fruit. Incoming rains may impact harvest schedule and field accessibility.

Volume: Production is steady.

Pack Counts:  20-24 depending on ranch. 

Santa Maria

Quality: Conventional and organic quality is good, with some occurrences of green shoulders and pinrot from recent rain. Crews are focused on dropping subpar fruit. Incoming rains may impact harvest schedule and field accessibility. 

Volume: Production is increasing. 

Pack Counts: 12-14, 18-24, depending on ranch. 

Florida

Quality: Conventional and organic quality is good.

Volume: Volumes continue to increase, however are not increasing as fast as normal due to unseasonably cool and wet weather.

Pack Counts: Conventional: 14-16, 16-20 depending on ranch; Organic: 16-32 depending on ranch.

Mexico

Quality: Conventional quality is good. 

Volume: Production is increasing. 

Pack Counts: Conventional: 25-28, depending on ranch; 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Chile

Quality: Quality and size at origin is excellent.

Volume: Volumes are light due to a 10-14 day delayed harvest caused by the mild spring in the region.

Oxnard

Quality: Organic quality is great with good size and bloom.

Volume: Volumes are light but increasing. Peak volumes are forecasted for weeks 8-13.

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good. 

Volume: Volume will steadily increase over the next month. Spring crop peak is forecasted for weeks 7-14.

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality of conventional fruit is good.

Volume: Conventional and organic volumes are steady. 

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with nice sheen and flavor. 

Volume: Volumes are steady. 

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:

“Absolutely delicious! Unbelievable life span (refrigerated)! Just as good today as when purchased 5 days ago!”

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