Posts Tagged “California blueberry shipments”
Coming off of record shipments last season California blueberries are entering its peak volume period this week with both organic and conventional fruit.
The California Blueberry Commission reports 74.5 million pounds were shipped in 2024.
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA reports peak loadings of organic will occur the first two weeks and lasting June, while peak conventional loadings are now underway.
California Giant Berry Farms is anticipating its conventional fruit harvest to be up more than 30% compared with 2024.
Overall, this year nationwide production is projected at 721 million pounds, down slightly from 740.5 million pounds in 2024.
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Blueberry supplies are extremely limited, as the California and Georgia seasons are off to slow starts. Expect elevated prices and low volume for the next three weeks, according to Markon of Salinas, CA.
The Mexican season is past its peak, as production is rapidly decreasing and is expected to end in late May.
The Georgia season has been delayed up to two weeks due to unseasonably cool weather. Florida volume is down 40 percent compared to this time last year. California’s San Joaquin Valley season is expected to start the week of May 5.
Demand far exceeds supply, and the industry will remain in a production gap for the next three weeks. Expect high markets and pro-rated orders for the next three weeks.
California blueberry volumes have been increasing in recent weeks, with a much better season anticipated this year.
The state’s volume typically peaks around the third week of May, with blueberries available from mid-late April to mid-June.
The California Blueberry Commission reports estimates indicate about 80 million pounds of blueberries being shipped this season.
Of this total, 60 million should be fresh blueberries, and 20 million pounds processed.
This figure would represent a nearly 20 million-pound increase from last year when the crop was hindered by cold and rainy weather.
The last blueberry acreage assessment in California showed among the three California districts (divided into coast, north, and south) district 3, including Fresno County to the south, had the largest acreage of blueberry plantations in the state.
About 27% of blueberry acreage is in Tulare County, followed by San Joaquin and Fresno counties.
California’s largest blueberry export market is Canada, and has been for many years.