Grower expects strong Pacific Northwest blueberry season starting in July

It’s a bountiful summer of blueberries for California Giant Berry Farms, as the company forecasts giant volumes of blues ahead.

The grower’s high yields and quality continue as consumer demand for blueberries remains steady, according to a news release.  

“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,” Alan Ediger, vice president of sales at California Giant Berry Farms, said in the release. “We’re on the right track to have a very positive year of high-quality blueberries.”

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In Oregon, California Giant blueberry growers are preparing for their first pick to happen the first week in July, with total supply offering a strong promotable window from mid-July through mid-August of conventional and organic premium fruit, the release said.   

Growers in British Columbia are not far behind — with initial harvests slated to begin early July, just a week behind the start of the Oregon season, according to California Giant. Conventional volumes from British Columbia are forecasted by the grower to increase rapidly, providing peak volumes from late July to mid-August. Organic volumes out of British Columbia are forecasted to produce a steady volume throughout the month of August.  

Out of Washington state’s growing regions, a light but steady supply of organic volumes are anticipated to span from early July through the end of August, supplementing California Giant’s organic blueberry program, according to the release.  

To support the expected influx of blueberries, California Giant is promoting through Instacart advertising and Ibotta consumer promotions. The brand will also launch a consumer engagement sweepstakes to drive brand awareness and demand, according to the release.