The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Santa Maria

Quality: Fruit quality remains strong, with defects like overripe berries, small fruit, and green shoulders. Crews are focused on turning in a clean pack.

Volume: Production volumes are increasing rapidly for both conventional and organic fall crop blocks.

Pack Counts: Organic spring crop 28-30; Organic fall crop 18-24.

 

Watsonville/Salinas

Quality: Overall fruit quality is strong. There is still some minor bruising, particularly varieties with larger fruit sizes.

Volume: A gradual decline is anticipated over the next two to three weeks

Pack Counts: Conventional: 14-18, 20-24; Organic: 24-28;

 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Pacific Northwest

Quality: Quality is good.

Volume: Strong production is anticipated to last throughout the month of August.

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Overall, fruit quality is fair with occurrences of overripe and soft fruit due to humid weather and rains.

Volume: Production is declining.

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good with nice shape and color. 

Volume: Volume is expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks.

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Blackberry quality has been significantly impacted by the recent weather. High humidity and dense air within the hoops have led to issues with overripe and soft fruit.

Volume: Volume for blackberries is declining.

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good.

Volume: Actual volumes have fallen short of forecasts, and this trend is expected to continue through the current and following week. We will see lower-than-expected volume that will last until we hit peak production in approximately two and a half weeks,

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SEPC Southern Exposure

Feb. 26 – Mar. 1
Orlando, Florida
Booth #728

CPMA

April 28-30
Toronto, Canada

Organic Produce Summit

July 14-16
Monterey, CA

IFPA Foodservice Conference

July 23-24
Monterey, CA
Booth #102

SEPC Southern Innovations

September 9-12
Nashville, TN

IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show

October 14-16
Orlando, FL

New York Produce Show

December 1-3
New York City, NY

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

“I just wanted to take a moment to say how much I appreciate the care and quality that goes into every berry you grow. Whether it’s strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries, your fruit is always vibrant, flavorful, and fresh—something that really stands out in today’s market. As someone who values clean, wholesome food, your berries have become a regular staple in my kitchen. It’s also inspiring to see your commitment to sustainability and community. From field to table, it’s clear that you prioritize doing things the right way, and it makes a difference. I love supporting companies that care not just about great products, but about the people and planet too.”

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