Blueberries look to be very light in supplies currently, though that’s set to change following the July 4th long weekend.
“The San Joaquin valley is wrapping up its last picks at normal timing,” said Markus Duran, director of bushberry supply at California Giant Berry Farms based in Watsonville, California. And as California’s Central Valley wraps up production this week, production begins shifting to another significant growing region.
“The Pacific Northwest production from Eastern Washington to British Columbia is historically late. We are figuring about two weeks behind at this point. Promotional volumes will be available post the 4th of July holiday this season,” says Duran. First picks in both Oregon and British Columbia will begin in about 10 days.
Markus Duran says the first picks of blueberries in both Oregon and British Columbia will begin in about 10 days.
Summer promotable volumes
Duran says large, promotable volumes of blueberries are forecast for mid-July through to August on both conventional and organic blueberries.
That said, there is a good year-over-year increase in volume. “Currently, we’re forecasting a strong harvest of conventional blueberries out of Oregon and British Columbia, and organic harvest out of Oregon and Washington in July and August,” says Duran.
Those incoming greater supplies are also meeting what’s anticipated to be good demand. “Blueberries have increasingly become a consumer staple following the pandemic. Many are finding their immune-boosting nutrition, sweet taste and versatility make blueberries the perfect fresh snack or ingredient item,” says Duran. “We’re on the right track to have a very strong year of blueberries and look forward to delivering high-quality berries when and where our customers need them.”
For more information:
Kyla Oberman
California Giant Berry Farms
Tel: +1 (831) 247-4386
koberman@calgiant.com
www.calgiant.com