---
title: November 12, 2018
description: This bi-weekly newsletter delivers information about our crops, the weather, consumer promotions & current news about California Giant Berry Farms.
image: https://trade.calgiant.com/hubfs/Image%20Today%20at%201_43_53%20PM-1.jpg
---
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# November 12, 2018
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Happy Monday,
We want to start this week off by giving our deepest condolences to the families, friends and civilians of both the Butte and Ventura Counties that have been affected by these blazing California wildfires. To those that have lost loved ones, homes, animals and belongings - our thoughts and prayers are with you. We also want to thank our first responders for their bravery and persistence in helping those in need. This week, it is only fitting that we kick off our [*10 Days of Giving promotion*](https://promos.calgiant.com/10-days-of-giving?hsCtaTracking=fd574c60-fb52-467d-95bc-7568c712ae26%7C356fe7b4-eafd-485d-bf65-ffb851a049b0) in an effort to give back to the ones we're most thankful for. Pay it forward - whether it's monetary, time, energy or sharing a smile with a stranger. We look forward to sharing our gratitude for you all during this busy holiday season, and keeping sweet and savory berries on the Thanksgiving menu just a little over a week away.
For more information, including crop and weather reports, please scroll below.
Crop Updates
**Watsonville - Salinas:**
Weather has been nice, and the sun has been out in the morning hours. Temperatures will fluctuate in the mid 60s - low 70s this week and will cool down into the weekend. It is starting to feel like fall here as the morning temperatures cool down into the low 40s and daytime temperatures are mild, yet brisk. Our crews are all finished with planting, and most growers are pushing to continue harvesting through November as quality persists and conditions stay favorable. Bushberries are decreasing in volume and should wrap up within the next 2-3 weeks.
**Santa Maria: **
Weather this week in Santa Maria will be in the low-mid 70s with mostly sunny days. Last week, temperatures were wet and foggy in the mornings, with nighttime lows reaching the low 40s. Our Portola fall crop looks good at 22-24 count with overall good quality and minimal bruising. Monterey is 18-20 count, some 24-26 and nice quality. Organic Portola fall crop is sizing down but still looks good - and packs are all clean. Labor is in good shape, and numbers are slowly winding down among our ranches.
****Oxnard:****
Winds have been blustering in our Oxnard region as the Santa Ana winds took off last weekend and into this week. Gusts have been anywhere from 20-40mph and should persist through to Wednesday. Temperatures are in the upper 70s for the start of the week, and will start to drop toward the weekend. No rain is forecasted for the next 10-14 days. Volume is staying steady and quality looks good. Fields and fruit are not currently being affected by the Southern California fires, but we are thinking of those in the deeper Ventura areas that have been faced with the fury of these wildfires. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
**Mexico:**
Weather has been very favorable with sunny days and chilly nights. We didn't get any rain last week and chances remain low except for tomorrow, with a 60 percent chance in all growing regions.
Temperatures will be in mid-upper 70s, nights will drop to mid-high 40s. Maravatío will be the coldest region, with nights in mid- upper 30s. We may be looking to fight green shoulders in the straws with these cooler temperatures. Other than that, quality has been good among all commodities. Strawberries are 24-26 count with some higher - quality looks good. Raspberries have consistent color and firmness, while blackberries are starting to look more firm as well. Blueberries both organic and conventional have very minimal issues and look great overall.
**Blueberries: **
Weather this week in our South American regions look to have scattered showers and warm temperatures. We are continuing to see volume increase in both Peruvian and Mexican blueberries. This is, however, driving the market down. Quality is great and berries are firm.
**Florida:**
We're expecting showers the first half of the week in our Florida growing region - with temperatures to remain in the 70s-80s. The extended forecast looks to cool down with temperatures in the 70s and nighttime highs in the 50s. Quality looks good, and we are picking counts 26-28 among Sensation, 28-32 in Radiance and 26-28 in Brilliance with size to increase in the weeks to come with cooler weather. We have seen no issues in labor, and we're about 3 weeks away from harvesting organics. Come Thanksgiving week, volume should ramp up.
Weather Conditions
For up-to-date weather conditions in all of our growing regions, click on the region below. [Wunderground.com](http://www.wunderground.com/) is our go-to weather resource for fast and reliable weather updates.
[Watsonville](http://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:95076.1.99999)
[Salinas](http://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:93901.1.99999)
[Santa Maria](http://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:93454.1.99999)
[Oxnard](https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/ca/oxnard/93030)
[Mexico](https://www.wunderground.com/weather/mx/zamora)
[Georgia](https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/ga/homerville/31634)
[Florida](https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/fl/plant-city)
[South America](https://www.wunderground.com/weather/ar/metan)
News
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families, civilians and produce friends in California who have been affected by these blazing wildfires . We also want to give a huge ***thank you** *to our first responders who are always there to help those in need.
*Want to learn how you can help?*
**Camp Fire - Butte County**
**North Valley Community Foundation Evacuation Relief Fund**
The North Valley Community Foundation is activating its Northern California Fire Relief Fund to raise money to support the operations of organizations that are sheltering evacuees of the Camp Fire.
[To give your support, go here.](http://www.nvcf.org/fund/camp-fire-evacuation-relief-fund/)
**Butte County Schools Fire Relief Fund**
The Butte County Office of Education created the Schools Fire Relief Fund to provide a one-stop location where individuals or organizations can provide monetary support directly to schools in Butte County. Donors can either specify a school, distinct use or make an open donation.
[To give your support, go here.](https://www.bcoe.org/o/bcoe/page/butte-county-camp-fire?fbclid=IwAR01_L5jEkIJUcbQTOAL74Wx-7U-QZilvMvX2dSfpC5BcW74cymAAlCb-bE)
**United Way of Northern California**
United Way of Northern California is offering emergency cash assistance to those who lost their homes to help with urgent basic necessities.
[To give your support, go here](https://www.norcalunitedway.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=2) or text BUTTEFIRE to 91999.
**Temporary housing from [Airbnb](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/topic/business/airbnb-ORCOM00081-topic.html)**
The Airbnb Evacuee Program for survivors of the Camp Fire is now open to those looking for temporary housing.
If you are a host and interested in signing up your home to provide emergency shelter to people affected by this devastating fire, [go here.](https://www.airbnb.com/welcome/evacuees/buttecounty)
**Collection Center For In-Kind Donations Drop Off**
Oroville Municipal Auditorium, 1200 Myers Street, Oroville, CA 95965
**Volunteer with Caring Choices**
If you are interested in volunteering to help the survivors of the Camp Fire, please contact Caring Choices. Their Emergency Volunteer Center is accepting applications for interested volunteers.
To sign up to volunteer, [go here.](http://www.caring-choices.org/)
**Hill and Woolsey Fire - Ventura County**
**Ventura County Community Foundation**
Ventura County Community Foundation has set up aHill Fire/Woolsey Fire Sudden and Urgent Needs Effort Fund to collect donations. It is also accepting donations in a Conejo Valley Victims Fund for victims of the recent mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California.
[To give your support for wildfire victims, go here.](https://vccf.org/donate/hill-fire-and-woolsey-fire-sudden-and-urgent-needs-effort/)
**United Way of Ventura County and Greater Los Angeles**
United Way of Greater Los Angeles, in partnership with United Way of Ventura County, has created a disaster relief fund to help those impacted by the Hill and Woolsey Fires and other natural disasters in Los Angeles County and other areas of Southern California.
[To give your support, go here](https://www.unitedwayla.org/en/give/disaster-relief-fund/) or text “UWVC” to 41444
**Humane Society of Ventura County**
The Humane Society of Ventura County is seeking donations to support evacuated animals being housed at its shelter.
[To give your support, go here.](https://www.hsvc.org/donate)
**Temporary housing from Airbnb**
The Airbnb Evacuee Program for survivors of the Hill and Woolsey Fires is now open to those looking for temporary housing.
If you are a host and interested in signing up your home to provide emergency shelter to people affected by these devastating fires, [go here.](https://www.airbnb.com/welcome/evacuees/venturacounty)
*Anything helps - small or large - especially for those that have lost their homes. As a produce community, let's band together to give back to those that need our help.*
Reaching Consumers
[](https://promos.calgiant.com/10-days-of-giving?hsCtaTracking=fd574c60-fb52-467d-95bc-7568c712ae26%7C356fe7b4-eafd-485d-bf65-ffb851a049b0)
'Tis the season for giving! Our [**10 Days of Giving Promotion**](https://promos.calgiant.com/10-days-of-giving?hsCtaTracking=fd574c60-fb52-467d-95bc-7568c712ae26%7C356fe7b4-eafd-485d-bf65-ffb851a049b0)kicks off *today*, and this is one of our favorite promotions of the year as it 'hits home' for our California Giant family. Giving back to our communities is something we *love to do;* it's the 'California Giant' way. This year, to promote paying it forward during the busy holiday season, we're excited to give away multiple $50 Visa gift cards to our Buzz Blog subscribers and social media participants. For 10 days straight, we'll be posting various seasonal content and on each post, asking consumers to share what **they're thankful for -** and to tell us their very own Thanksgiving stories. Each day, we will select one entrant and the person that they tagged that they are grateful for, and they will *BOTH* win a $50 Visa gift card. Along the way, consumers will have a plethora of mouth-watering Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving recipe inspiration to replicate throughout the holidays. Let the giving, cooking and feasting begin!
Consumer Spotlight
Summer year-round? We're glad our berries transport you to sunshine, warmth, and sweet summertime no matter what month we're in!
Pick of the Week
Fresh California Giant berries were spotted at Odonata Wines in the Salinas Valley - we couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday than with wine, cheese, and berry pairings!
[Send us your own](mailto:%20mmaitoza@calgiant.com) "pick of the week" and we will feature it here!
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