---
title: October 29, 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/PHOTO-2018-10-25-11-15-48-1.jpg
---
[](https://trade.calgiant.com/)
Visit Our Other Sites
Choose
- [Consumer](http://calgiant.com/)
- [Foodservice](https://foodservice.calgiant.com)
- [Cycling](http://www.calgiantcycling.com/)
- [Contact](https://trade.calgiant.com/contact-us/)
- [FAQ](http://calgiant.com/faq)
- [Where to Buy](http://calgiant.com/where-to-buy)
- Resources
- [Handling](https://trade.calgiant.com/handling/)
- [Display & Merchandising](https://trade.calgiant.com/display-and-merchandising/)
- [Pack Sizes](https://trade.calgiant.com/pack-sizes/)
- [GTIN Info](https://trade.calgiant.com/gtin-info/)
- [CG Consumer Site](http://calgiant.com/)
- [Videos](https://trade.calgiant.com/trade-videos/)
- [Newsletter Archive](https://trade.calgiant.com/newsletters/)
- [Contact Us](https://trade.calgiant.com/contact-us/)
- Visit Our Other Sites
- [Consumer](http://calgiant.com/)
- [Cycling](http://www.calgiantcycling.com/)
- [Crop Updates](https://trade.calgiant.com/newsletters/oct-2018-29-0#crop-updates)
- [Weather Conditions](https://trade.calgiant.com/newsletters/oct-2018-29-0#weather-conditions)
- [News](https://trade.calgiant.com/newsletters/oct-2018-29-0#news)
- [Reaching Consumers](https://trade.calgiant.com/newsletters/oct-2018-29-0#reaching-consumers)
- [Tom Talks](https://trade.calgiant.com/newsletters/oct-2018-29-0#foodservice)
# October 29, 2018
[](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
Happy Monday!
Who's Halloween ready? The year is flying by and we can't believe the holidays are already upon us. Our shoppers are fully equipped with all the California Giant inspiration needed to eat, drink and be *scary* this Halloween. As we wrap up our Scary Berries promotion come November, we look forward to continuing to incorporate berries into the holiday menus ahead in creative, innovative ways. Not to mention, adding nutritional value and color to some of the holidays most comfort-filled foods. Hint: what colleagues will you be inviting over for your Friendsgiving Feast?
For more information, including crop and weather reports, please scroll below.
Crop Updates
**Watsonville - Salinas:**
Salinas and Watsonville have had temperatures in the high 60s-low 70s, with mostly sunny skies. No rain is on the forecast for the next 10-14 days. Last Monday was our first day of planting - with organics to be finished up by mid-November. Quality is mixed as the season slows, and counts are mostly 20-24 in conventional fruit and 28-33 in among organics.
**Santa Maria: **
Temperatures are warming up this week, and could warm up into the low 80s by Wednesday. Quality looks good, and our Portola and organic fall crop is 20-24 count. Conventional Monterey is 22-26 count, with organic San Andreas 28-35 and on the smaller side. Labor is looking good, and planting should be done by the end of this week.
****Oxnard:****
Weather in Oxnard has been in the high 70s - low 80s, and mostly sunny. No rain is forecasted for the next 10 days. Quality is good, and color is 95-100 percent. Fall crop organic counts range from 16-18, and plants look healthy and strong. We'll have hoops up soon for organic crops. Planting is wrapped up, and winds have slowed down, which has helped with quality.
**Mexico:**
Weather has improved significantly since last Wednesday, with only minimal rain on Saturday evening, and apparently the last of it. Overall, quality is good. Blackberry quality is picking up and we are seeing less soft fruit. Blueberries look good, well sized and tasty. Raspberries have minimal issues, and strawberries are warming up as growers are evening up their harvest dates. Counts are 24-26, with some up to 28. Maravatío has had temperatures in the low 70s with nighttime lows in the 40s. Zamora has had highs in the 80s, with nighttime temperatures dropping to lower 50s - most regions are experiencing similar weather. Days are mostly sunny and warm, and nights feel chill - resulting in nice weather for our berries.
****
**Blueberries: **
Weather in our South American regions are looking to be heavy in rain this week, while temperatures remain warm. Blueberry volume is slowly increasing in South America. Quality looks good - size and flavor are great.
 ![PHOTO-2018-10-25-11-15-48\[1\]](https://trade.calgiant.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PHOTO-2018-10-25-11-15-48%5B1%5D.jpg?width=440&name=PHOTO-2018-10-25-11-15-48%5B1%5D.jpg)
**Florida:**
The countdown continues! Weather remains in the 80s this week with showers underway for the weekend. Harvest is projected for mid-November and we can't wait to share photos of the large, juicy strawberries to come.
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
Have you heard about our new hires? That's right - our team is growing, and we've hired multiple new positions just within the last month.
We have hired financial sales analyst Brittany Wang, and logistics specialist David Johnson.
Also, in mid-October Markus Duran was promoted from blueberry category specialist to North American blueberry operations manager. Duran has been with us for five years, as we have grown into a year-round grower-packer-shipper of fresh blueberries.
Wang started with us at the beginning of October by supporting the sales desk by analyzing data, and researching economic conditions in growing regions to position the company for growth.
Johnson's first day is today, and will work with logistics manager Gary Bertone, who is responsible for transporting and logistics for all berries throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
*We have also hired various other positions:*
- Abelardo Rodriguez, systems coordinator-packaging/track & trace;
- Wendi Castagnola, staff accountant; and
- Shannon Cotton, sales coordinator.
We are very excited to announce the expansion of our team and continuing to grow as a company to better support our partners.
Reaching Consumers
We're sharing our favorite California Giant spooky inspiration and recipes this week in light of Halloween! From [Berry Cats and Bats](https://www.calgiant.com/recipes/scary-berry-cats-and-bats) to [Dark Fog Blackberry Cocktails](https://www.calgiant.com/recipes/scary-berry-dark-fog-cocktail) - we have our consumers covered with 'inspo' for all the Halloween adult shindigs, and kid-friendly festivities. It's time to grab your berries and best costumes, and celebrate.
[](https://promos.calgiant.com/2018-scary-berries?hsCtaTracking=86e10d80-e9ee-4b32-919a-787ba4d9df1e%7C763b3d3b-4829-4cfa-9808-65edd80375a0)
Tom Talks
A budding friendship and partnership has since evolved with our Chef Invitational judge Denis Boaro of Seaside's *Gusto Handcrafted Pasta and Pizza -* who now regularly features California Giant berries on their menu.
However, more specifically in this collaborative partnership - berries, fine Italian food and delicious Duckhorn Vineyards wine took over the restaurant last Wednesday evening in a 5-Course Winemakers Dinner featuring California Giant berries and wine pairings.
It was an evening of fresh flavor, innovation and *fun*. Menu items included a mouth-watering *Polenta and Pinot Noir Meatball with Goat Cheese Stuffed Raspberries,* a *Short Rib Ravioli and Raspberries* and an *Italian Mild Spicy Oven Roasted Sausage with Fennel, Speck, Black Olives, Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Raspberries and Blackberries*.
Needless to say, it was a delicious evening - we value our local partnerships and collaborations, and look forward to continuing to see berries taken beyond breakfast dishes and dessert garnishes.
Speaking of berries and innovation - we're even seeing berries being used creatively throughout our retailers. Our foodservice director, Tom Smith, has something to say about his recent blueberry sausage findings:
"Green Eggs and Ham… well, not quite. But a “strangely gray hued” breakfast pork sausage that uses blueberries. Available at the Salinas, California Nob Hill and in Raley’s store brand. I’ve seen so much creativity from fresh berry cocktails and savory dishes - to sweet desserts, crunchy appetizers and more - as we have continued to work with bloggers, influencers, chef collaborators and contestant recipes from the Chef Invitational to keep consumers excited about using fresh berries and preparing fresh berries for use **all year long**! This is a first for me, but I love seeing it. Blueberries are not just for breakfast parfaits or a dessert garnish anymore."
Thanks to Tom - the office enjoyed learning more about these flavorful blueberry sausages, and *trying them for ourselves* in our very own California Giant kitchen last week. As expected - they were delicious!
***Stay tuned for more Tom Talks next week.***
Consumer Spotlight
A *Giant* thanks to this consumer for sharing the love!
Pick of the Week
California Giant Berry Farms cupcakes made an appearance at a birthday party this week - we want a bite!
[Send us your own](mailto:%20mmaitoza@calgiant.com) "pick of the week" and we will feature it here!
## Leave a Comment
### Subscribe
### Recent Posts
- [Search](http://calgiant.com/search)
- [Contact](https://trade.calgiant.com/contact-us/)
- [Privacy](http://calgiant.com/privacy-policy)
- [Buy](http://calgiant.com/where-to-buy)
- [Free Stuff](http://calgiant.com/free-stuff)
© California Giant Berry Farms. All rights reserved.