The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Florida

Harvest Status: Plants are healthy; light harvests are anticipated to begin in week 47.  

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with healthy plants, a strong flower set and occasional overripe fruit. 

Volume: Production is increasing as the season starts. Volume is estimated to increase significantly near week 47.  

Pack Counts: Conventional: 24-28 

Santa Maria

Quality: Stress to the plants and fruit from extreme fluctuations of hot and cold weather over the past 8 weeks is becoming apparent. Quality is fair with some pin rot, deformed tips and seedy fruit.  

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: 20-26; Organic Fall Crop: 26-32-34 depending on ranch; Organic Spring Crop: 28-32  

Watsonville/
Salinas

Quality: Quality is fair with some green fruit and decay. The season is expected to wind down over the next few weeks because of heat, rain, and pest pressure.  

Volume: Production is starting to wrap up for the season; volume will decrease into November.  

Pack Counts: Conventional: 20-24; Organic: 28-32 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Argentina/
Uruguay

Quality: Quality is good on arrival.  

Volume: Production is steady with peak production expected in early November.  

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with excellent size and bloom.  

Volume: Production is increasing.  

Peru

Quality: Quality is excellent.  

Volume: Production is steady and expected to increase in early November.  

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with nice size and firm fruit. Occasional broken and/or green fruit. 

Volume: Production is slowly increasing.  

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is fair. 

Volume: Production is decreasing as the season winds down.  

 

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is very good with nice size. 

Volume: Production is steady. Peak volumes forecasted for December. 

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good.  

Volume: Slight increase in volume.  

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

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!