Latest News From Strawberries

Bobalu Berry Farms has just launched a series of exclusive recipes as they begin to build a consumer network of brand loyal shoppers.  

Prissy Fletcher is overjoyed. The cabbage crop is thriving this year in St. Johns County, just south of Jacksonville in northeastern Florida.

Oishii, the producer of a much-hyped seedless, creamy, premium strawberry grown at a Kearny, N.J.-based commercial-scale indoor vertical farm, has closed in on $50 million in funding.

The Packer is seeking supplier input this week for upcoming coverage of bananas and California strawberries.

Strawberries enjoyed a third week in a row at No. 1 on PMG, while pummelos bumped oranges down to take the No. 2 spot, landing oranges at No. 3.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll’s has announced a partnership with the Israel-based technology solutions company Consumer Physics to leverage its SCiO technology to innovate Driscoll’s quality measurement process.

In early February, farmworkers started trickling into the parking lot from the strawberry field to take their lunch break at Parkesdale Farms, Dover, Fla.

Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms has established a growing operation in Oxnard, Calif.

The value of U.S. apple exports fell 11% in 2020, but government trade statistics show that orange exports increased in value by 8%.

Why is it that we so closely associate Valentine’s Day with strawberries? I mean, sure, the fruit is sweet. It’s beautiful. It’s red. It’s more or less heart-shaped.

The Southern California strawberry scene has undergone a major transformation during the past couple of decades.

Southern California growers soon may have access to some new strawberry varieties.

Pummelos were finally knocked from their weeks-long run at No. 1 when strawberries took the top spot on PMG the week of Jan. 25.

Oppy is set to conduct two independent trials exploring the viability of new technologies that aim to further advance strawberry production practices by offering solutions to persistent issues faced by the industry.

Until Jan. 19, Southern California was enjoying an ideal strawberry season.

We haven’t had any opportunities to grab booth swag at in-person trade shows in almost a year, but there are a few produce gadgets I’ve held onto from shows in years past.

Pummelo, oranges and strawberries carried the top three spots on PMG for the third week in a row, while lettuce rose three places to No. 4, and apples gained four spots to complete the top 5.

Pummelos, oranges and strawberries maintained the top three spots on PMG the week of Jan. 11, but mandarins rose from No. 11 the previous week to No. 4, and cabbage, previously No. 12, moved up to the No. 5 spot.

Today, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered formal comment to the U.S. International Trade Commission on two investigations into imports of strawberries and bell peppers into the American market.

Pummelos and oranges maintained the top two spots on PMG the first week of January, but strawberries rejoined the list at No. 3.

Stay up to date on all the recent berry news and insights here.

The Blueberry Coalition for Progress & Health, a group that includes domestic blueberry importers and foreign grower groups, has formed to oppose limitations on imports of the berries.

Cannabidiol oil applied to strawberries can extend the berry’s shelf life, according to research published in ScienceDirect from University of South Florida scientists.

“When we have cooler years, the berry quality is a lot sweeter and firmer...this year’s quality of fruit is going to be next-level. Hopefully, the market will prevail, and everyone is happy, COVID notwithstanding.”

Bobalu, LLC is seeing better days ahead as the year of 2020 ends with all the uncertainty it has created.

California Giant Berry Farms strawberry growers are looking forward to the start of the year with volumes ramping up in California, Mexico, and Florida. 

Nearing a centennial anniversary in agricultural packaging, the team at Sambrailo has built a legacy in the industry known for service and being the pioneers of innovative packaging solutions.

Berry grower and marketer Wish Farms, Plant City, Fla., is adding strawberry acreage in Florida.

For the first time, a white strawberry that smells a bit like a pineapple will go to market in the U.S.

Bobalu Berry Farms hosted an employee celebration to mark the end of the 2020 fresh strawberry season in Santa Maria.

Executives from Driscoll’s and Plenty will discuss the collaboration between the companies with the indoor vertical farming firm growing Driscoll’s strawberries.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is asking the International Trade Commission to monitor and investigate imports of strawberries and bell peppers, following requests by Florida groups.

Berry grower-marketer Wish Farms, Plant City, Fla., is refreshing its brand with a new look for packaging, new label messaging, updated website and a smartphone app.

Berry People, a year-round, full-line shipper of branded organic and conventional strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and avocados, recently secured partnerships with growers in Peru.

Greenhouse grower Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, has plans for massive expansion of facilities in the U.S. and Canada in the next two years.

Indoor grower Plenty Unlimited Inc., which markets under the Plenty brand, has $140 million more to grow its business.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Discroll’s is capturing authentic family “slice of life” moments with the launch of its Sweetness Worth Sharing promotion.

Driscoll’s and indoor vertical-farming company Plenty Unlimited Inc. have announced a joint development agreement to grow Driscoll’s proprietary strawberries year-round in Plenty’s vertical indoor farms. 

Mastronardi Produce, Kingsville, Ontario, is seeing high demand for Dreamberry, Pearberry and Lolliberry strawberries.

Markon Cooperative, Salinas, Calif., is offering foodservice operators a new cardboard clamshell for strawberries that’s fully recyclable.

Global conventional and organic berry supplier Giddings Fruit has opened an office in Monterey, Calif., through its subsidiary, Giddings Berries USA.

Bobalu Berries, Oxnard, Calif., has launched a website that focuses on the 60-year history of the family firm, as well as the vision of the future from managing partners Bobby and RC Jones.

California Giant Berry Farms has hired Alan Ediger as vice president of sales and Jay Brown as chief financial officer.

Jonathan Sparks has joined Oxnard, Calif.-based Bobalu Berries’ sales team.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended application deadlines for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for farmers and ranchers in Texas and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura.

Read the 2020 Fresh Trends Data on strawberries!

The California Strawberry Commission, Watsonville, has released a series of training videos to remind agriculture workers of steps to take to remain safe in fields and at home.

Satsuma Farms, Watsonville, a supplier to California Giant Berry Farms, has become the first strawberry Growers to receive Sustainably Grown certification from SCS Global Services.

Berry company Sun Belle Inc. is acquiring CoolHouse Distribution Center LLC, in Laredo, Texas.

Here's the latest strawberry news from The Packer!