Posts Tagged “blueberry shipments”
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA is ramping up its domestic blueberry shipments.
A promising start to the domestic blueberry season has come with early season harvests underway, the company said in a news release.
Conventional blueberry production is ramping up, with the Florida season commencing the week of March 17th and Georgia is anticipated to begin the first week of April. California’s Central Valley will follow suit, with harvests expected to begin in early May, ensuring a consistent supply of fresh, conventional blueberries, the company said.
On the organic front, Oxnard, CA, is currently experiencing peak production, yielding high-quality fruit, said California Giant, adding that these supplies will be supplemented by organic harvests from the Central Valley beginning in early April.
California Giant also said it will highlight the availability of its premium Giant Blueberries. These large (20-millimeter-plus) berries are now available in a new label design, selected by California Giant’s consumer audience.
The Giant Blueberries, known for their size and flavor, undergo rigorous sorting on a Unitec sorting line at California Giant’s Santa Maria, Calif., packing facility, the company said. The company said this process ensures that only the highest-quality berries, selected for color, firmness, size and other quality indicators, are packaged into each clamshell.
California Giant said it continues to deliver on its mission to provide the best berry experience by offering a year-round supply of fresh berries that represent the highest standards for quality and consistency.
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA has shared the availability of its GIANT Blueberries. These large (20mm+) and flavorful berries are now available in a vibrant new label design, selected by California Giant’s consumer audience.
This new, modern label celebrates a product California Giant has expanded on since the opening of its state-of-the-art blueberry pack house in Santa Maria, CA.
California Giant’s GIANT Blueberries are available in good volume from March through August, with peak availability in April and May. Sourcing begins in Mexico, shifts to California, and then moves to the Pacific Northwest as the growing season progresses, to ensure a consistent supply of these flavorful berries throughout the spring and summer.
The GIANT Blueberries, boasting impressive size and superior flavor, are sorted for color, firmness, size, and other quality indicators using a state-of-the-art Unitec sorting line at the Santa Maria facility. This ensures only the highest-quality berries make it into each clamshell. The Santa Maria pack house serves as a central hub for California Giant’s growers and outside suppliers, offering co-packing assistance and reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting its industry partners.
Jumbo blueberries are a rapidly growing segment of the berry category, reflecting evolving consumer preferences. Nielsen data shows double-digit growth in both dollar sales and pounds compared to the previous year, with jumbo blueberries also increasing their dollar share of the total blueberry category. Notably, the top three jumbo blueberry items accounted for 50% of total dollar sales, and the top ten items made up an impressive 90%, highlighting the strong consumer demand for premium jumbo offerings.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA GIANT BERRY FARMS
At California Giant Berry Farms, the difference is Giant. As the most resilient berry company in the world, California Giant strives to deliver premium berries while nourishing its communities. California Giant’s year-round supply of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries set the standard for quality and consistency and provides retailers, foodservice, and consumers with the best berry experience. Over four decades, California Giant has evolved into a global family united by a passion for delivering excellence. Quality, consistency and community inspire the mission and values that sustain the California Giant enterprise.
Good volume berry shipments are expected from U.S. shippers the rest of the summer and a huge volume increase is in the forecast for imported Peruvian blueberries.
In early July, California strawberry shippers had moved over 105 million trays, compared to 121.4 million trays at the same time a year ago. Rain during the winter and spring followed by a heatwave the second week of June had California strawberry loadings running below last year’s numbers.
Besides strawberries there are other competing fruit shipments ranging from cherries, to stone fruit and melons.
Blueberry Shipments
Gourmet Tranding Co. of Los Angeles reports domestic blueberry shipments should remain strong for at least the next couple of months, continuing through September. However, domestic “blues” are expected to have some strong competition from Peruvian blueberry imports, which is seen increasing as much as 50 percent over a year ago. Those imports begin in August and continue through January and possibly into February.
The vast majority of domestic blueberry shipments during the summer are originating out of Michigan, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. All of these areas are reporting good crops.
Other Berry Shipments
Summertime means peak shipments for domestic raspberries and blackberries. A hot spell in California during June did not have as severe an impact on raspberries as it did on strawberries.
California raspberry shipments should continue into mid-November out of Watsonville. Razz loadings will then transition to Ventura County, before switching to Mexico for the winter.
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville will be shipping California raspberries until late September or early October before shifting to Mexico.
By Berry People
Hollister, CA – Berry People, a year-round, full-line supplier of organic and conventional branded berries and avocados, is transitioning to its blueberry supply to the Pacific Northwest as the Mexican and California seasons wind down.
The company is offering branded blueberries from Washington State that started in late June and from British Columbia in Canada starting around July 10.
Its North American blueberry shipments will grow significantly this year and be available through the arrival of its imported fruit towards mid-September.
“Our overall blueberry supply has grown by over six-fold year-to-date, largely based on the groundwork laid in 2017-18,” says Jerald Downs, President of Berry People.
“Berry People has a substantial untapped blueberry supply base from shareholders and alliance partners, but we are being careful to expand based on our customer programs.”
Berry People’s North American blueberry volumes specifically look to be up around three-fold over last year.
“This means we have plenty of room to grow domestically as we manage our year-round distribution footprint and counter-seasonal supply balance,” Downs adds.
Late-season organics in a critical window
Berry People is excited about its new late-season Oregon and Peruvian blueberry deals as well. These supplies will give the company its desired continuity of supply for the critical window from mid-September until the end of October.
“The majority of this new production will be organic, with peak volumes in October,” says Downs. “Additionally, we expect significant growth from our existing northern Chilean supplier base, after a successful season last year. This fruit is also primarily organic.”
In addition, Berry People will begin harvest on its shareholders’ new organic blueberry planting in Jalisco, Mexico, which has been developed especially for the fall harvest window.
“As we reach critical mass in the blueberry category, we are dedicating more resources to its management to improve our overall genetic position, pack-style and packaging offering, market prediction and pricing, as well as program placement,” Downs comments.
Berry People’s Growth
Berry People is experiencing steady and strong development on multiple fronts, as it becomes as first-class supplier of organic berries to the U.S. market.
“Some developments include the refining of processes, systems and personnel in anticipation of future growth, the recent closing on a substantial cash flow line of credit, and an eminent office move to accommodate the personnel increase towards the fourth quarter,” said Downs.
He added that these developments are initiated and sustained on the basis of mutual trust in the relationships with its customer and grower partners.
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About Berry People: Berry People is a year-round, full-line shipper of organic and conventional strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and avocados, and owner of the Berry People® and Avo People brands®. Headquartered in Hollister, California, the company’s ownership and key alliance partners hold important production assets in California, Mexico, Chile and Peru.
By California Giant Berry Farms
Watsonville, CA – California Giant has been building their year-round berry shipments over the past several years in response to customer demand for increased volume of all four berry types. This year the company reports a milestone with fresh blueberries.
The company expects the summer blueberry crop to begin just in time for July holiday promotions both in retail and foodservice. Availability of fresh California Giant organic and conventional blueberries will continue throughout the summer and into the fall when the season moves to Mexico & South America. Again, the company has developed long term relationships with farming partners in those regions as well enabling a smooth transition from one region to another allowing promotions to continue.
Due to higher demand over the past 5 years, fresh California Giant blueberry volume has increased each year by anywhere from 15 to 30 percent.
However, summer volume from the Pacific Northwest in 2019 will increase by 45 percent over just last year. The conventional program will increase by 25 percent over last year, and the organic blueberry volume is expected to increase by 90 percent over 2018. The significant increase in California Giant brand blueberries is due to efforts in building grower partnerships, specifically in Oregon, allowing the company to ship most of their summer blueberries domestically reducing food miles.
California Giant is looking forward to this new program addition as the company will provide good volume of both conventional and organic blueberries now on a year-round basis.
“We have worked together at California Giant to develop long term partnerships with our blueberry farming partners and are excited to see these relationships come together to benefit both of us. We look forward to sharing details with our trading partners about our expended blueberry program and the volume we will bring to the table with both conventional and organic fruit just in time for summer,” says Markus Duran, North American Blueberry Operations Manager.
By Wish Farms
Plant City, FL – International grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, Wish Farms is gearing up for a robust Southeast blackberry season.
North Carolina berry shipments are underway and peak volume is expected around the second to third week of June, with the season concluding in September.
Since 2016, growth in the blackberry category has been a focus for Cane Berry Director Jose Saca: “We aligned ourselves with exceptional growers that allow us to provide great tasting varieties like PrimeArk 45, Osage, Ouachita and Natchez among others. We are also encouraged by the steady growth in consumer demand. If there are no major weather events, we can expect a good production year with early volume estimates 15-20 percent higher over last season.”
In 2018, Wish Farms completed a 7,500 square foot cooler in Shelby, N.C. to manage their blackberry shipments in the region. All Wish Farms blackberries in this region will ship from this facility after thorough quality control inspections.
“This southeastern blackberry program is essential to our mission of providing the best tasting berries,” said James Peterson, VP of Sales. “We look forward to working with our retail partners this June and throughout the summer to support blackberry ads.”
The blackberry season is expected to align well with the high-quality blueberry shipments shipments coming from the region. Weather in Georgia and North Carolina has been ideal leading up to the season. Plants have had favorable chill hours. Presently, there have been no major weather events or late winter injuries that lead to bud or fruit damage.
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About Wish Farms:
Wish Farms, founded in 1922 and third-generation owned, is a year-round supplier of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries growing both conventional and organic varieties.
Harvest start dates were later than last year, but Georgia produce shipments gathered steam in May and June should be even better.
March and April cool weather resulted in fewer shipments than year, when Georgia growing regions experienced a warm spring. The top two months for Georgia produce shipments in 2106 were June, with 48 percent of the state’s total yearly volume, and July, with 19 percent.
Ken Corbett Farms LLC of Lake Park, GA had 2018 harvest dates running 10-14 days behind normal. J&S Produce of Mount Vernon, GA has had a similar experience with squash and zucchini.
Through April 2017 Georgia had shipped 4.1 million pounds shipped of squash. By the end of April this year zero pounds of squash had been shipped. Georgia squash shipments last year totaled 49.7 million pounds.
Through April 28, Georgia blueberry shipments totaled 2.8 million pounds, down from 66 million pounds at the same time last year. For the week of April 23-28, Georgia accounted for 20 percent of total U.S. blueberry volume, down from 34 percent at the same time last year.
Total Georgia blueberry shipments last year totaled 22.5 million pounds.
Georgia cabbage shipments of the week of April 23-28 totaled 2.2 million pounds, down from 6.3 million pounds the same time last year. Georgia accounted for 15 percent of total cabbage supply for the week, down from 36 percent of total supply a year ago.
Season-to-date shipments of Georgia cabbage through April 22 totaled 2.4 million pounds, off from 11.1 million pounds at the same time a year ago. Total Georgia cabbage shipments last year totaled 61.5 million pounds.
For the week of April 23-28, Georgia onion shipments totaled 16.8 million pounds, down from 19.7 million pounds the same week a year ago.
Georgia onions accounted for 16 percent of total U.S. onion volume, compared 17 percent at the same time a year ago.
Season-to-date shipments of Georgia onions through April 28 were 25 million pounds, down from 57.1 million pounds at the same time last year.
Georgia onion shipments last year totaled 283.6 million pounds.
There were exception with Georgia produce where loadings were actually ahead of year ago.
Georgia is a significant producer of greens. For the week of April 23-28, Georgia shipped 3.3 million pounds of greens, up from 2.7 million pounds the same week last year.
The state’s shippers accounted for 65 percent of U.S. greens volume, compared with 43 percent of total U.S. shipments at the same time. Total greens shipments from Georgia topped 80 million pounds in 2017.
Georgia broccoli shipments through April 28 reflect bigger volume in 2018 so far compared with 2017. For the week of April 23-28, Georgia accounted for 2.3 million pounds, up from no reported shipments the same week a year ago.
Georgia accounted for 8 percent of total U.S. broccoli supply the week of April 23-28.
Season-to-date shipments of Georgia broccoli through April 28 totaled 14.7 million pounds, up from just 3.3 million pounds the same time a year ago. Total broccoli shipments all of last year totaled 4 million pounds.
Georgia carrot shipments the week of April 23-28 totaled 1.9 million pounds, up from 1.6 million pounds the same week a year ago.
Georgia represented just 7 percent of total U.S. carrot supply for the week, slightly up from 6 percent the same week a year ago. Total Georgia carrot shipments in 2017 totaled 19.4 million pounds.
Optimism abounds at Del Monte Fresh Produce as the domestic blueberry shipments progress. Also, Monsanto is looking to genetically alter strawberry to get a sweet taste and longer shelf life.
Del Monte Fresh
By Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc.
Coral Gables, FL – Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. (Del Monte) is optimistic about the domestic blueberry season that spans between March and September. It began in the south and eastern states, continued to California in April, and later into British Columbia.
Del Monte’s Chilean import blueberry season finished with increased volumes over the prior years and it continues to expand to meet the growing interest from retailers and food service customers.
“The demand for fresh blueberries in the United States has grown steadily over the past decade. Per capita consumption more than tripled since 2005, exceeding 1.5 pounds per person,” said Dennis Christou, VP Marketing N.A. “Del Monte has been a key player in growing and shipping premium blueberries in Chile for more than 25 years and we continue to expand our operations to meet this growing demand. A major advantage we have is our Del Monte Fresh Cut business which these products support.”
The Mexico blueberry season will begin in early fall.
About Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. is one of North America’s leading marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. markets its products in North America under the Del Monte® brand (as well as other brands), a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for more than 125 years.
Sweeter Strawberries
by Erin Brodwin, Business Insider
In a move aimed at securing a place in the rapidly evolving food technology scene, the agricultural giant Monsanto has invested $125 million in a gene-editing startup called Pairwise.
The alliance could tee up Monsanto, long known for its controversial dealings with farmers and its role in popularizing genetically modified organisms, to introduce some of the first produce made using the blockbuster gene-editing tool Crispr. Sweeter strawberries with a longer shelf life could be among the earliest offerings.
The tool allows scientists to accurately target specific problem areas within the genome of a living thing, opening up the potential to tweak the DNA of everything from row crops like corn and soy to produce like apples and asparagus to make the produce taste sweeter, last longer on the shelf, and even tolerate drought or flooding.
Here’s a news roundup ranging from Texas onion loadings to increasing shipments by an Ontario company, as well as a Colorado produce shipper, and finally, an update on blueberry imports.
Texas Onion Shipments
South Texas onion shipments get underway within the next couple of weeks, but due to industry consolidation and decreasing numbers of onion growers and shippers over the past 15 years, there has been a 31 percent decrease in the number of onion producers and a 34 percent decrease in the number of handlers.
The Rio Grande Valley of South Texas has about 60 onion growers and about 30 shippers. Total shipments of south Texas onions were about 3 million 50-pound equivalents for the 2015-16 season,
Texas onions, Mexican imported produce – grossing about $3400 to Chicago.
Red Sun Shipments
Red Sun Farms of Lemington, ON is expanding its shipments of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers to include Golden Sun Avocados.
Best known as a North American greenhouse grower, Red Sun Farms will be handling avocados produced in Mexico, and distributed through the company’s supply chain to service customers throughout North America.
Red Sun Farms will begin distributing the Mexican avocados during the second quarter of 2018.
Sakata Sweet Corn
Sakata Farms of Brighton, CO is changing its farming operation and discontinuing sweet corn production, and concentrating on onions and other crops.
The company is holding a farm equipment auction March 10 at 9:30 a.m. Mountain time. The company will no longer raise sweet corn, broccoli and cabbage.
Blueberry Imports
Fresh blueberry shipments take place in the U.S. the year around, made possible in large part by the increasing amount of imports from South America, which supplies product during the offseason of U.S. blueberry shippers. Chile is the leading country supplying “blues” this time of the year to the U.S., accounting for 52.7 percent of fresh cultivated blueberries over the past five years.
Since 2013, however, Mexico, Argentina and Peru significantly increased exports to the U.S. Argentina has upped exports to the U.S. by 35 percent from 2013 to 2017, Uruguay is up 46 percent and Mexico is up 414 percent.
Percentage wise, the biggest increase has come from Peru, with U.S. imports from that country up 3,971 percent from 2013 to 2017.
Overall, blueberry imports are up 44 percent.
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By USDA APHIS