Make your menu pop with COLORFUL, FRESH BERRIES.

California Giant Berry Farms delivers the best berry experience for the foodservice industry by providing an all-season supply of sustainably grown strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries that represent the highest standards for quality, consistency and smiles.

CHEF’S CORNER

California Giant Berry Farms is now accepting entries for its annual Chef Invitational. 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. 

The revered event invites foodservice, corporate and restaurant chefs to compete by submitting a main dish recipe that showcases the versatility of fresh berries. Unique to 2023’s submission guidelines is the requirement for the recipe to fall under one or more of key trends as identified by Flavor & the Menu, including: Asian Breakfast Wakes Up, Mustard’s Moment, The Dark Side of Butter, True Colors  and Time for Thai. 

For more information on how to apply to the 2023 California Giant Chef Invitational and to read the full guidelines for entry, click here!

Learn more about our Chef Invitational Top Chefs and their winning dishes below: 

BLACKBERRY LAMB KOFTA
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Derek Seigfried

2022 Chef Invitational Top Chef

GIANT BERRY PIZZA WITH TRIPLE BERRY CHIPOTLE SAUCE & STRAWBERRY “PEPPERONI”
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Robert Stegall-Smith

2022 Chef Invitational People’s Choice Winner

Pan Seared Pacific Halibut with Spicy Pickled Strawberries
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Sam Blackburn

2020 Chef Invitational Top Chef

Tres Berry Cakesicles
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Bill Barker

2020 Chef Invitational People’s Choice Winner

Travis Peters

2019 Chef Invitational Top Chef

Jonathan Merrick

2019 Chef Invitational People’s Choice Winner

Luis Reyes

2018 Chef Invitational Top Chef

Shane Henderson

2018 Chef Invitational People’s Choice Winner

Berry Storage and Handling Best Practices

High-quality, colorful, flavorful berries are always on our menu. California Giant Berry Farms delivers all-season smiles.

Unload all berries immediately into a cold room, roughly 32°F. Never allow a shipment to sit outside of a cold atmosphere.

Check for maturity, ripeness level, quantity, packaging, size, count, weight, and grade. Report any discrepancies immediately.

Store unwashed, in clamshells away from sources of moisture; moisture will cause rapid breakdown of the berry.

Don’t wash berries until ready to serve and use a gentle spray of cool water.

Don’t remove green caps from strawberries until after rinsing. This helps to retain flavor inside the berries.

PACK SIZES THAT FIT YOUR NEEDS

Strawberries
1 lb. • 2 lb. • 3 lb. • 4 lb.

Blueberries
6 oz. • Pint • 18 oz. • 24 oz. • 2 lb.

Raspberries
6 oz. • 12 oz.

Blackberries
6 oz. • 12 oz.

Sustainable packs available:

Ask your sales representative about our sustainable offerings

corrugate and cardboard box icon
SCS Certified logo
Bee Better Certified logo

Learn more about our year-round berry availability.