The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Santa Maria

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.

 

Florida

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;

Mexico

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.

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Mexico

Quality: Conventional quality is excellent.

Volume: Conventional volume is in peak of production, which should last through mid-April.

 

Oxnard

Quality: Organic quality is excellent.

Volume: Volume is quickly ramping up, and peak volume is estimated to arrive around late March.

 

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Overall, fruit is looking good with a strong red color, sizes and firmness. 

Volume: Volume for raspberries is staying at a consistent peak through the end of April.

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good.

Volume:Volume for blackberries is staying steady at a consistent peak through the end of July.

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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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