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Oxnard:
Volume: The plants are enjoying the longer days, and the fruit is starting to really load up. April will be a peak month in terms of supply, with May looking like a strong finish for the season.
Quality: Crews have been successful in cleaning off any hail/rain damaged fruit, though there are some residual here and there. Growers are reporting some green tips. Overall, the fruit has a very good shape, sheen, color and great taste.
Pack Counts: Conventional: 14-18 ct.
Santa Maria:
Quality: Most ranches have gotten through the hail damage and are seeing great quality.
Volume: Steady increases are expected as growers head into their peak production in May.
Pack Counts: Conventional Spring Crop: 10-12-14 ct. / Fall Crop: 16-18-20 ct. Organic Spring Crop: 16-18 ct. / Fall Crop: 26-28 ct.
Mexico:
Quality: Overall good quality, despite some green shoulders and smaller sized fruit.
Volume: Total volume is slowly declining; however, harvest is expected to continue through April for the US Market.
Pack Counts: Conventional: 26-28 ct.
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Florida:
Quality: Quality continues to be very good.
Volume: While some growers are shutting down for the season, others plan to continue harvest for another week while quality remains high.
Pack Count: Conventional: 27-30 ct.
Watsonville/Salinas:
Harvest Status: April looks to be a slow start industry-wide for this growing area. Momentum will pick up quickly toward the end of the month to early May.
Mexico
Quality: Quality is very good with good size, bloom, flavor, and firmness on both organic and conventional product.
Volume: Our growing regions in Mexico have been experiencing nice weather with warm temperatures, which is helping move ripening along quickly. These ranches are currently in their peak production window for both conventional and organic fruit.
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Oxnard
Quality: Quality of the organic-only crop is good with firm berries and good bloom. The only minor defects present is a small percentage of attached blossom and redback, which crews are making modifications to mitigate this.
Volume: Production will be strong and steady for the month of April.
Central Valley, CA
Harvest Status: One organic grower has begun field-packing organic 6 oz. blueberries in very light volume before the rest of the farms start mid-April.
Quality: Berries are firm with good bloom. Some redback is the only minor defect present in the pack.
Florida:
Harvest Status: Harvest of light volume from early producing fields began last week. Volume will pick up in early April. March’s cool weather in Florida has slowed down ripening. As a result, growers are anticipating a slightly longer, steady production season.
Georgia:
Harvest Status: Georgia growers are projecting a start date of April 10. Volume is expected to peak in late April-early May. Georgia fields are now in the full bloom-petal fall-early green fruit stages.
Mexico:
Quality: Quality is good with only an occasional uneven or overripe berry.
Volume: Steady volume.
Mexico:
Quality: Overall good quality with the occasional red cell and overripe berry being spotted.
Volume: Growers expect volume to slowly trend upward now through mid-May.
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For up-to-date weather conditions in all of our growing regions, click on the region below. Wunderground.com is our go-to weather resource for fast and reliable weather updates.
Last week, we celebrated National Agriculture Day, at California Giant – we celebrate this every day! We want to thank everyone in the fresh produce industry for the role they play in providing nutritious fruits and vegetables to families everywhere.
