Latest News From Strawberries

It’s apt that as Earth Day (April 22) raised the awareness of sustainable packaging and alternatives to plastic, a trio of companies have been in strawberry fields testing a prototype cardboard clamshell.

The California Strawberry Commission will use Instagram for its summer marketing campaign, the Get Snacking Challenge, which has a $1,000 grand prize. 

Strawberry growers in the Golden State, including in its No. 2 growing region of Santa Maria, have been producing greater volumes with higher-yield varieties, and this year could be a banner year.

Last week on Produce Market Guide searches for avocados and strawberry content dominated demand.

Plentiful rain over the winter quenched thirsty fields across California, but will delay fruit and vegetable supplies out of Santa Maria during the spring season.

Plant City, Fla.-based Harvest CROO Robotics has developed a new version of its Harvest CROO — Computerized Robotic Optimized Obtainer — harvester and expects to begin commercial harvesting late this year.

The Watsonville-based California Strawberry Commission has a wealth of programs on tap this season to encourage consumers to buy California strawberries.

Berry supplier Driscoll’s, Watsonville, Calif., has been recognized for its comprehensive approach to labor compliance.

Blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, raspberry and strawberry purchases from across the nation.

U.S. imports of strawberries have trended sharply higher in the past five years, trade data show.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll’s Inc. has filed a complaint in federal court against strawberry breeding company California Berry Cultivars and the company’s co-founder Douglas Shaw.

Berry lovers that are loyal to California Giant Berry Farms can now easily find what retailers in their area carry the brand.

Driscoll’s is seeing increases in its Baja California, Mexico, Fair Trade program, with a 14% hike in acreage in 2019 and a goal to have all production certified by the end of the year.

Driscoll’s is seeing increases in its Baja California, Mexico, Fair Trade program, with a 14% hike in acreage in 2019 and a goal to have all production certified by the end of the year.

Well-Pict Berries, Watsonville, Calif., will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Southeast Produce Council’s 20th annual Southern Exposure Convention and Expo March 7-9 in Orlando.

Concord Foods, whose line of produce companion foods are often displayed in the fresh produce department, has a new chocolate dip snack under the Simply Concord brand.

California Giant, Watsonville, Calif., has hired Helena Beckett as retail sales account manager.

Editor-in-chief Tom Karst and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss a couple of the major topics of the week, including a drop in strawberry acreage in the Salinas-Watsonville region and industry event BrandStorm.

A reduction in strawberry acreage in the Salinas-Watsonville growing region is expected to spur better grower prices this spring and summer, a new Rabobank study says.

Twenty teams competed to pluck the most strawberries at the sixth annual Strawberry Picking Challenge at Wish Farms, Plant City, Fla., an event raising more than $90,000 for the Redlands Christian Migrant Association.

Amelia Freidline, designer and copy editor for The Packer, and Ashley Nickle, retail editor of The Packer, talk strawberries in this Valentine's Day episode of Millennials Eat.

Well-Pict Inc., is trying out two new proprietary strawberry varieties in Southern California.

Success Valley Produce LLC, Oxnard, Calif., is focusing on expanding its strawberry operations to be year-round and producing in all the U.S. growing areas, said Backus Nahas, director of marketing.

After a soggy start to the season, Estero, Fla.-based Naturipe Farms LLC expects to pack a lot of 2-pound trays out of California during March, said Jerry Moran, senior director of sales.

Planning was underway in January for the second annual Strawberry Automation Summit sponsored by California Strawberry Commission at California Polytechnic University.

Watsonville-based California Giant Berry Farms has lined up promotions for consumers and the foodservice sector.

Southern California growers anticipate tight supplies of strawberries for Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, but there should be an abundance of the fruit by the time Easter arrives on April 21.

A research effort behind the rebranding of Naturipe Farms studied the attitudes of nearly 4,000 participants in the U.S. and Canada to gain consumer insights, company officials said.

Ashley Nickle, retail editor of The Packer, recaps two of the big stories of the week — the end of the tomato suspension agreement and the status of strawberry supplies leading up to Valentine's Day.

Demand is high for Florida strawberries as Valentine's Day approaches and rain hampers production in California.

HOLLYWOOD, FLA. — The new contemporary “look and feel” of Wholesum was on display at The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo.

California Giant Berry Farms is sponsoring a second annual Chef Invitational, seeking chefs at foodservice partners across the country to compete.

University of Florida researchers have developed a strawberry with higher yields in November and December, when the season is starting and berries are in demand.

More organic produce consumers are pushing back against the use of plastic in packaging, but will it matter?

After its first successful season growing organic strawberries, Berry People, Hollister, Calif., is expanding its Mexican program in Baja California.

Wholesum Harvest, Wholesum Berries and Wholesum Family Farms will be collectively known at Wholesum, as the company undergoes a brand refresh.

California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonville, Calif., has introduced a sustainability initiative.

It is always strawberry season somewhere, isn’t it?

The time for automated harvest of strawberries is getting closer, said Gary Wishnatzki, co-founder of Harvest CROO Robotics and president, CEO and owner of Wish Farms, Plant City, Fla. 

Florida's fastest-growing strawberry variety also is its newest.

The beginning of the Florida strawberry season has started off lighter than usual but should find strong volume in January.

The University of California-Davis has entered into an agreement with Global Plant Genetics Ltd., Norfolk, England, to sublicense new strawberry varieties.

Growers are optimistic about this year’s Florida strawberry crop.

Although Hurricane Michael caused damage to crops in the Florida Panhandle, the central and southern parts of Florida, where the vast majority of the fall produce is grown, were not directly affected by the storm.

With an eye on continuing a period of growth for the company, California Giant Berry Farms has hired Brittany Wang as financial sales analyst and David Johnson as a logistics specialist.

Dave’s Specialty Imports, Miami, Fla., is offering a jumbo blueberry pack and expanded organic strawberry volume from Mexico, says Leslie Simmons, vice president of Dave’s Specialty Imports, Miami, Fla.

Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit participants can take a virtual berry farm tour.

Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms will offer visitors to its Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit booth a virtual farm tour. 

Always Fresh Farms, grower and marketer of berries and other fruit, has hired Keith Mixon, who has an extensive history in the berry category, as senior advisor to its executive team.

Organic strawberries account for 11.8% of the strawberry acreage in California, with some producers saying the category is oversupplied.