Posts Tagged “Georgia blueberries”
MIAMI, FLA. – Crystal Valley Foods (Crystal Valley) has announced that it has partnered with Superior Berries and will begin shipping Georgia-grown blueberries under both the Crystal Valley and Superior Berries labels beginning this season. The first shipments will begin in April and will be available through the end of May.
Superior Berries, whose parent company is Superior Pine Products, started producing berries in 2003. Today the company has over 200 acres in Fargo, Georgia with plans to expand an estimated 100 acres in the next year. They grow and hand pick primarily Southern Highbush blueberries including Meadowlark, Patricia, Kee Crisp, Indigo Crisp, Farthing and Legacy varieties.
Crystal Valley markets blueberries year-round.
About Crystal Valley Foods
Founded in 1994, Crystal Valley Foods is a leading grower and importer of top quality produce from Central and South America and the United States. With offices and facilities in Miami and Los Angeles, the company is one of the largest importers and distributors of asparagus in the USA. Its extensive product line also includes baby vegetables, peas, beans, berries, baby lettuces, peppers and other specialty crops.
Everyone from produce truckers, to produce shippers and consumers a like can’t wait for spring given the wicked winter it’s been for much of the country. The further into March we get the more volume and available loading opportunities will be, particularly with Southeastern produce shipments.
For example, Nicaraguan mangoes will be arriving in heaviest volume at South Florida ports, although some will be delivered to ports int he Northeast.
Florida blueberry shipments are just starting and will work their way northward in the state, before giving away to south Georgia blueberries in late April. Strong volume is expected in part because of a late Easter (April 20) that is closer to Mother’s Day (May 11). Florida expects to ship 25 million pounds of “blues” this season, a 14 percent increase over a year ago. Florida should peak the second and third weeks of April.
Georgia blueberry volume is also showing significant increases each year.
However, the big push comes in Florida in April with a host of mixed vegetable items reaching peak volume, particularly from southern and central parts of Florida. Good volume should continue into May.
In Georgia, Vidalia sweet onion shipments will begin in light volume in late April. Vidalia onion shipments could be down about 20 percent this year. Central and southern Georgia are currently shipping moderate amounts of greens ranging from kale to collard. Cucumbers, squash and other veggies will start maturing in April.
Florida mixed veggies, tomatoes and blueberries – grossing about $3100 to New York City.