California Giant berries are key contributors to your produce department sales and we are here to help maximize your profits and fulfill year-round consumer demand. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are as fragile as they are popular. Following are guidelines for proper receiving and handling of California Giant berries in your operation:
All of our berries destined for retail distribution from a central shipping warehouse must be kept cold until loads are ready to depart and placed onto the truck for final shipment to each store.
Berries on pallets that have been bagged and treated with carbon dioxide will warm during transport as a result of their own respiration. It is crucial that you remove bags immediately upon arrival. Improper handling of bagged pallets can result in off flavor.
Unload all berries immediately into a cold room. Never allow a shipment to sit outside of a cold atmosphere when not on display. Optimum temperature is near 32°F degrees (breakdown begins at 36°F degrees) with high humidity (90-95%). Un-refrigerated storage reduces shelf life and creates shrink.
Berries must never come in contact with moisture, misters, etc. Moisture will cause rapid breakdown of the berry (Ethylene gas does not affect them).
Check for maturity, ripeness level, quantity, packaging, size, count, weight, and grade. Report any discrepancies immediately.
Always rework berries each morning from the previous day's display.
Anticipate demand and prepare berries ahead of time to keep displays well stocked.
Spot check display throughout the day.
Be prepared for peak shopping hours, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Offer multiple pack sizes and display all berry varieties together.
Restocks don't always keep pace with sales. Research shows display stocks decline during the afternoon peak shopping hours when clerks don't keep pace with sales.
Under stocks in the afternoon and evening can cost a whole day's sales over the course of a week.
