October 10, 2019

Happy Thursday!

We are busily prepping for the Tour de Fresh kicking off this weekend, as well as PMA Fresh Summit next week, and we cannot wait to see riders, sponsors, and our partners along the way and at our booth #2961. If you have a friend, family member or colleague riding in the Tour de Fresh be sure to cheer them on as they ride into the Finish Line Ceremony next Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center entrance! Let's bring some salad bars to schools, and talk all things berries next week - see you soon!

For more information, including crop and weather reports, please scroll below.

Crop Updates

Watsonville-Salinas:

Weather has been warm in our Watsonville-Salinas growing regions with temperatures in the 80s going into this weekend, and starting to cool down into the 70s next week. Nighttime temperatures are in the 40s-50s range. Volumes among all commodities are beginning to slow but quality is holding on well among strawberries and bushberries. Some growers will begin planting the last few days of October as they begin to prepare for the 2020 season.

Santa Maria:

Weather in Santa Maria has fluctuated in the 70s-80s - this weekend we will see a warming trend with temperatures in the 80s and next week back down into the low-mid 70s. We are seeing a marine layer in the morning hours that is fading off into the afternoon hours, while mornings are in the low-mid 40s. Our fall crop conventional Portola has cleaned up nicely with a good flower set and green fruit coming in. Counts are mostly 22-24, with some even 16-18 - crews are doing a great job at packing fruit in the fields. As for our Monterey - counts are generally in the 24-range with mixed quality. Flowers coming in are looking good. The organic fall crop Portola has crooked fruit here and there and mostly 24-32 count. We are finishing up the Fronteras planting, with more planting days ahead next week.

Oxnard:

Below are photos of our newly planted Fronteras and San Andreas - fruit is on the way and plants are looking good.

Mexico:

Blueberries -

Production is anticipated to increase and the quality of fruit is looking good - we have excellent bloom, firmness and size. Organic production and harvest schedules have been affected by the stormy weather recently.

Raspberries -

The weather this week has helped to increase raspberry volumes. Following recent storms, field personnel has focused on cleaning up the fruit that had ripened faster. With the efforts of our growers, we have maintained the same quality despite weather effects - good color, and counts.

Blackberries -

The weather is looking up and helping to increase volumes. We are seeing no rain on the forecast, and warm, moderate days. Fruit is looking excellent and counts are 28-30 in 6oz clamshells.

Strawberries -

Strawberry quality is looking excellent - early plantations are looking exceptionally well. Counts are ranging at 28-30 in Maravatio and production is looking good for the season. Organic volume could start within the next few weeks.

straw 41

straw 41 1

rasp 41 3

black 41 2

South America:

Weather in Peru is mild and sunny, with temperatures in the high 60s. Conditions are favorable and harvest volumes and quality in our Trujillo, Canete, and Biloxi varieties are looking good. In Argentina and Uruguay the Snowchaser is still the main harvested variety, followed by Emerald, Ventura, Flicker and Sapphire. Rains and thunderstorms are on the forecast for the weekend and temperatures are mixed - ranging from the 60s-70s over the weekend and back into the 80s-90s in the morning. Chilean blues look good in size and firmness, and weather is expected to be in the mid-high 70s for the next week or so.

Florida:

We anticipate being finished with planting by Monday of next week. Early planted fruit is starting to show in the fields, and looking good. Weather has been in the mid 80s and high 60s at night, which has been favorable for the berries. We will begin harvesting Florida strawberries on 11/9 - continue to be on the lookout for more updates once our crop takes off!

Weather Conditions

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.

News

Need we say more? Stop by our booth #2961 at PMA Fresh Summit to talk to our team about our fall-winter program, and what's next in 2020. Cheers!