Quality: Fruit quality has rebounded well after last week’s water damage cleanup. While there are still occasional dry, water-damaged berries and hidden decay under the calyx, growers have been diligent in removing lower-quality fruit. Overall, fruit size remains large, averaging in the low to mid-teens, with strong shape, sheen, and firmness.
Volume: If the weather holds, we expect production to ramp up rapidly over the next couple of weeks as we enter the “double-up” stage of the production curve.
Pack Counts: Conventional spring crop, 14-16; Organic spring crop, 12-16; Organic fall crop 22-26.
Quality: Between the high precipitation, humidity, and heat, botrytis has been found under almost every calyx this week, causing packing crews to drop more than 90% of red fruit. Whatever we did end up packing ended up having some kind of issue of wet bruising, pinrot, and decay.
Volume: Volumes are expected to stabilize toward the end of the week, with a potential dip later next week.
Pack Counts: 20-22;
Quality: Fruit quality is good with issues of bruising, white shoulders and soft skin.
Volume: Production has passed its peak.
Pack Counts: 16-20, 22-28.
Quality: Conventional quality is excellent.
Volume: Conventional volume is in peak of production, which should last through mid-April.
Quality: Organic quality is excellent.
Volume: Volume is quickly ramping up, and peak volume is estimated to arrive around late March.
October 8 – 10th
Seattle, WA
“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.”