From Florida to Georgia and the Carolinas growers and shippers of berries are optimistic for an excellent shipping season.
Naturipe Farms of Salinas, CA grows blueberries in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida and blackberries in Georgia and North Carolina.
The company has blueberries from February through June in Florida, April through July in Georgia and May through July in North Carolina. Naturipe also grows blackberries from May through July in Georgia and June through August in North Carolina.
Excellent quality is expected.
Gem-Pack Berries of Irvine, CA grows strawberries in the Plant City and Dover areas of Florida and in Fort Meade from mid-November to mid-April.
Despite a few weather issues, the company is seeing a very good crop.
Crystal Valley Foods of Miami sources blackberries and blueberries from Florida and Georgia from March through June. The company is just starting its Florida berry season and Georgia will start at the end of March or the beginning of April.
The company ships most of its berries to foodservice customers and some retail outlets.
Always Fresh Farms of Plant City, FL saw its strawberries peaking in February and had an early start on Florida blueberries a couple of weeks ago.
The company was seeing a nice crop set up in Georgia on blueberries and blackberries, but that was still a number of weeks away.