The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Santa Maria

Quality: Conventional and organic quality is good, with some occurrences of soft-skinned, bruised or overripe fruit.

Volume: The season is winding down and production is reducing week-over-week.

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

Watsonville/Salinas

Quality: Quality is great, with nice sheen, large size and excellent flavor. Some occurrences of overripe fruit.

Volume: Volumes are increasing as weather becomes increasingly more favorable. Volumes will be peaking for the next 3 weeks. 

Pack Counts: Conventional 14-18; Organic 16-24, depending on ranch. 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Central Valley

Quality: Quality is good with occasional soft fruit

Volume: Conventional production has reached peak volumes but will begin dropping in volume nearing July.

Mexico

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

Volume: Volumes are decreasing due to unfavorable weather.

Pacific Northwest

Region Update: Initial scratch pickings are scheduled to begin this weekend. Fruit sets look excellent but are slow to bloom due to low temps and foggy, rainy days. PNW is expected to hit large volume towards the middle of July.

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

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

Volume: Volumes are increasing. 

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is great.

Volume: Volumes are increasing.

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 increasing. 

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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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