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Watsonville-Salinas:
Weather in Watsonville-Salinas has been cold and overcast this week with temperatures in the low-mid 60s and not a lot of sunshine. We did receive some heavy drizzling in the fields this morning that created moisture on the boxes and in the clamshells - something we will be monitoring as we head into the weekend with more light rain on the forecast. Damages will be assessed after rainfall, but as of now, quality has remained good and counts are large at 12-14 and mostly full color and firm fruit. Labor is good with no issues at the moment. Our raspberries are going to start off slow in about 2 weeks, with blackberries about a month out.
Santa Maria:
Weather in Santa Maria started off with light rain - nothing significant, but enough to get the crops wet. Temperatures have been in the 60s during the day, and the 50s at night. We anticipate showers tonight and into tomorrow, with about a quarter inch or more on the horizon. Monterey quality has been strong with big volume - counts are mostly 12-14 count, and a nice clean crop. San Andreas is 16-18 count, some 20, with nice appearance. It's looking even better on the second pass of picking after some minor bruising is cleaned up here and there in the field. Our organic crop continues to look impressive with very good quality. Organic San Andreas is 14-16 count with nice color and firmness.
Blueberries:
Georgia Blueberries:
We have hot days and rain on the horizon this weekend and into next week - with temperatures in the 80s and storms forecasted for Friday, Sunday and Monday. We have just come down on the highbush peak period, and quality has continued to look good and the varieties being predominantly packed are now mostly Farthing and Key Crisp.
Oxnard Organic Blueberries:
Our Oxnard blueberry quality has been good and temperatures have been relatively mild, keeping fruit nice and firm. We are in the middle of our peak right now, and expect it to last another 14 days. We will continue to have lighter volume after the peak into early June.
Central Valley Blueberries:
We are packing just a few pallets right now with larger farms to start ramping up next week. Volume is anticipated to spike during the last week of May into early June. Volume as an industry in this region is relatively slow, with most of the fruit being packed the Snowchaser variety from the southern part of the valley near Bakersfield.
Oregon Blueberries:
Oregon fields are in the middle of their blooming period - varieties include Duke, Draper, and Legacy. Pollination weather has been good and it seems like pollination has been successful on the earlier blooms. Weather has been warming up and will get into the low 80s this weekend, which could speed up crop development.
Mexico:
Weather and quality in our Mexico growing regions has not changed much. We are still reaching temperatures in the mid0-90s during the day, and dropping to the 50s during the night. Days are mostly sunny with hot winds and nights are clear. Raspberry quality looks good with some overripe fruit here and there, and volume to continue through June. Blackberries in Ziracuaretiro are doing good with minimal defects, some overripe and thrip damage but nothing concerning. Blueberries are downsizing, but quality remains strong.
Georgia Blackberries:
Our Georgia blackberries are about to be loaded with fruit in the next month or so - with an anticipated start date for June 14-15th. Be on the lookout for updates in the next few weeks as the crop kicks off.
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.
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Blueberries + Heat
With consumers’ love of heat still burning bright, it’s a smart move to find new ways of giving them what they want. Modern heat demonstrates a complexity of flavor, often tempering the spice level with sweetness. Our Pan Seared Snapper with Blueberry Chimichurri sauce is a perfect example of some sweet heat!
Blueberries + Balsamic Vinegar
The sweet, bright flavors of blueberries pair really well with the tangy acidity of balsamic vinegar, from a blueberry balsamic chutney on a charcuterie or cheese plate to a vibrant glaze on chicken or turkey. In this case, we love our Blueberry Vinaigrette over a tossed Green Salad with pops of color and vibrance, and tangy sweet flavor. Blueberries also nicely counter the high notes of the vinegar with softer tones, thanks to their fresh, sweet-tart profile.
