The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Santa Maria

Quality: Conventional and organic quality is good with some occurrences of bruising.

Volume: Volumes are strong. 

Pack Counts: Conventional 20-24 depending on ranch; Organic 20-22.

Watsonville/Salinas

Quality: Quality is great, with some bruising and overripe fruit.

Volume: Volumes are strong. 

Pack Counts: Conventional 16-20; Organic 22-26, depending on ranch. 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Central Valley

Quality: Quality is great with occasional soft fruit

Volume: Both organic and conventional volumes are strong.

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with some flower debris and shriveled fruit due to hot weather. 

Volume: Volumes are decreasing.

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good overall with occasional light-colored fruit.  

Volume: Volumes are steady. 

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good.

Volume: Volumes are light as the season begins. 

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with nice sheen and color. Current defects are occasional regression and overripe fruit.

Volume: Volumes are increasing. 

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good.

Volume: Volumes are light as the season begins. 

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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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