The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Santa Maria

Quality: Fruit quality remains strong across both conventional and organic crops.

Volume: Conventional and organic volumes are declining.

Pack Counts: Conventional 20-26; Organic 20-26.

 

Watsonville/Salinas

Quality: Overall fruit quality is strong. There is still some minor bruising, particularly varieties with larger fruit sizes.

Volume: A slight decline in volume is anticipated—likely a drop of 10%-15%, due to some blocks passing peak production. Organic production is also expected to taper gradually.

Pack Counts: Conventional: 14-16, 20-24; Organic: 22-26;

 

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Mexico

Region Update: The blueberry season in Mexico is coming to a close.

Central Valley

Region Update: This is expected to be the final week of the season for fresh harvesting.

Pacific Northwest

Quality: Quality is great.

Volume: Strong production is beginning this week and anticipated to last throughout the month of July and into late August.

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Overall, fruit quality is fair with occurrences of overripe and soft fruit due to humid weather and rains.

Volume: Production is declining.

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good with nice shape and color. 

Volume: As we transition into the new raspberry plantings at some ranches, volume is expected to come on strong starting the second week of July.

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Blackberry quality has been significantly impacted by the recent weather. High humidity and dense air within the hoops have led to issues with overripe and soft fruit.

Volume: Volume for blackberries is declining.

Watsonville

Quality: Quality is good.

Volume: Production is currently limited to a few pallets a couple days of the week, but increasing weekly.

Central Valley

Region Update: We will only have conventional production here. The season here will be quick, with volume beginning sometime in mid-June through the end of July. Availability from this region will be limited due to committed business, but open-market availability may be available on a weekly basis.

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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 just wanted to take a moment to say how much I appreciate the care and quality that goes into every berry you grow. Whether it’s strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries, your fruit is always vibrant, flavorful, and fresh—something that really stands out in today’s market. As someone who values clean, wholesome food, your berries have become a regular staple in my kitchen. It’s also inspiring to see your commitment to sustainability and community. From field to table, it’s clear that you prioritize doing things the right way, and it makes a difference. I love supporting companies that care not just about great products, but about the people and planet too.”

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