The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Oxnard

Quality: Quality is good with 95-100% color and nice shape and sheen. 

Volume: Production is past peak, however higher volumes will be sustained for the following 1-2 weeks.  

Pack Counts: Conventional: 20-24 depending on ranch 

Santa Maria

Quality: Conventional and organic quality is good, with occasional green shoulders and deformed/bruised fruit. Future weather forecasts are favorable, and plants are strong as peak production arrives.  

Volume: Supply is strong and plentiful for Memorial Day promotions.  

Pack Counts: Conventional: 14-16, 18-20; Organic: 16-18, 18-20, depending on ranch 

Watsonville/
Salinas

Quality: Quality is good with nice shape and sheen. Minor occurrences of burnt calyx are expected to improve in the coming weeks. 

Volume: Production is forecasted to increase week-over-week, with peak promotional volumes anticipated in early July. 

Pack Counts: Conventional: 9-12; Organic: 10-12, 14-16 depending on ranch 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Central Valley

Quality: Quality of organic fruit is excellent.  

Volume: Cold weather has limited field pack volume, however with improved weather forecasted, volume is expected to increase quickly over the next 3-4 weeks. 

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with some soft and shriveled fruit. Crews are doing a good job keeping packs clean.  

Volume: Volume is decreasing slightly for both conventional and organic fruit as the season begins to wind down. 

Oxnard

Quality: Quality of organic crop is good with occasional soft fruit. Harvest crews are doing a good job keeping packs clean. 

Volume: Production is currently peaking.  

Georgia

Harvest Status: Packing will resume with light volumes at the end of May/early-June. 

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with some green, overripe and broken fruit. 

Volume: Production is steady. 

Watsonville

Harvest Status: Volumes are light as the season gets underway. Production is forecasted to pick up near the end of June.  

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with some green and broken fruit. 

Volume: Production is steady. 

Watsonville

Harvest Status: Volumes are anticipated to be light as the season gets underway. Production is forecasted to pick up near the end of June. 

VOTING NOW OPEN: Now in its 5th year, the California Giant Chef Invitational is a nationwide culinary competition that calls upon chefs to think outside the box and create innovative, original dishes featuring fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries as the hero of the plate. Don’t miss your opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice chef!

Click here to cast your vote!

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:

“Great product! My kids love strawberries and I’ve purchased these for them and they are the best strawberries I have found in the area. Kudos to you!”

The Trade Buzz

Subscribe to The Buzz trade newsletter and receive weekly emails with the latest berry news.

The Berry Buzz logo

Subscribe the Berry Buzz Blog for the latest berry news, recipes, tips, videos and more!