The Trade Buzz

CROP UPDATES

STRAWBERRIES

strawberry

Oxnard

Quality: Quality is great with nice sheen, shape, firmness, 90-100% coloring.

Volume: Volumes are steady, but forecasted to increase following the rain event.

Pack Counts: 12-14, 16-18, depending on ranch.

Santa Maria

Quality: Conventional and organic quality is good with some occurrences of split tips and water damage. Fruit has a nice shape, sheen and flavor. 

Volume: Volumes are increasing. Plants are loaded with flowers and green fruit. 

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

Watsonville/Salinas

Region Update: The region has begun light organic harvests for the season. Volumes are anticipated to increase quickly in April. Rain event is forecasted for early in the week, which may disrupt volumes.

BLUEBERRIES

blueberry

Central Valley

Quality: Organic quality is good

Volume: Production is light but increasing. 

Florida/Georgia

Quality: Quality is great

Volume: Production is increasing.

Oxnard

Quality: Organic quality is great

Volume: Production is stable and approaching peak volumes. 

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good with occasional attached flowers. 

Volume: Volume will steadily increase over the coming months.

RASPBERRIES

raspberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is very good with nice size and firmness.

Volume: Conventional and organic volumes are steady. 

BLACKBERRIES

blackberry

Mexico

Quality: Quality is good overall with some red cell and leaky fruit. 

Volume: Volumes are steady. 

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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:

“Absolutely delicious! Unbelievable life span (refrigerated)! Just as good today as when purchased 5 days ago!”

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