The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Florida

Quality: Organic quality is great. There is little to no damage from heavy rainfall due to Hurricane Nicole.  

Volume: Organic production is increasing; light conventional harvests will begin this week.  

Pack Counts: Organic: 20-24

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with occasional overripe fruit or green shoulders.  

Volume: Volume is increasing with peak production anticipated to start in 2 weeks.  

Pack Counts: Conventional: 20-26, 26-28 depending on ranch 

Santa Maria

Quality: Quality is good for both conventional and organic fruit with some green shoulders and pinrot due to cold wet weather. Quality is expected to improve going forward as plants and green fruit look healthy.  

Volume: Volume is forecasted to decrease throughout the remainder of the season due to ongoing pest pressure and past weather events.  

Pack Counts: Conventional Fall Crop: 20-25; Organic Fall Crop: 20-25, 28-32 depending on ranch 

Watsonville/
Salinas

Quality: Quality is fair. The region received over 3” of rain last week ending the season.  

Volume: Production will finish this week.  

Pack Counts: Conventional: 22-26; Organic: 30-34

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Chile

Quality: Quality is good.  

Volume: Production is starting slowly due to inconsistent weather and rain. Containers are expected to start arriving in week 48. 

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good, some ranches are experiencing mite pressure. Growers are working to mitigate the issue.

Volume: Production is increasing. 

Oxnard

Quality: Quality is good. 

Volume: Volume is increasing as the season gets underway.

Peru

Quality: Quality is good.  

Volume: Production is steady. The last conventional arrivals are expected in week 48. Organic arrivals are expected to continue through week 50.  

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good. 

Volume: Conventional production is increasing; organic volumes are light.

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good for the end of the season. 

Volume: Production is decreasing.

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is very good with nice size. 

Volume: Conventional production is increasing; organic production is steady.  

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good with some calyx retention due to cool, wet weather.  

Volume: Volume is decreasing as the season winds down.

Organic Produce Summit (OPS)

July 10th – 11th
Monterey, CA

IFPA Foodservice Conference

July 25th – 26th
Monterey, CA
Booth #617

SEPC Southern Innovations

Sept. 12th – 14th
Nashville, TN

 

IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show

Oct. 17th – 18th
Atlanta, GA

A berry nice note from a California Giant Berry Farms shopper:

“I don’t ever write reviews but felt the need to say that I purchased a container of blueberries from my local grocery store and they were absolutely delicious. The best blueberries I have had in a very long time. They were very big and very sweet. I will continue to buy your berries whenever I see the California Giant name in my grocery store. Thank you for a fantastic product!”

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