Meena Farms eyes bigger crop
There is potential for a bigger cherry crop this year for Gustine, Calif.-based Meena Farms, said Chris Medeiros, general manager. The firm is primarily focused on export markets. Peak supply is expected about May 17, which Medeiros said is two to three days earlier than normal. He said the company expects fruit size to peak at 9.5 row.
Oppy looks for strong crop of California cherry crop
The Oppenheimer Group expects a good crop of California cherries, and new packing line enhancements will boost efficiency, said Jon Bailey, cherry category manager for the Vancouver, British Columbia-based company. “We are excited to add a new Unitec optical sorting line this season with the latest and greatest software,” he said. Oppy anticipates peak availability around May 20, he said. Bailey said Oppy also is excited to launch its Katco Packing partnership at the beginning of this season and looking forward to bringing fruit from the Brookside and Katicich labels to the market in the weeks ahead.
Primavera Marketing updates packinghouse systems
Primavera Marketing has updated the software in its cherry packing house, said Rich Sambado, president of the Linden, Calif.-based company. “We just continue to stay updated with the new (packing) technology,” he said. “As of 2020 we have 132 lanes of optic sorting capability basically under one roof.” Peak availability dates are anticipated from May 17 to June 7, he said. Sambado said Primavera urges retailers to create big cherry displays and to not be afraid of charging higher retail prices. Enough labor is expected to harvest the firm’s cherry crop, though finding packing house workers is harder. A 40% increase labor costs over the past four years is concerning, he said, and points to the need for higher f.o.b. cherry prices. Even so, Sambado thinks California cherries have a great future. “Cherries are a great commodity that has a bit of ‘seasonality’ still to it,” he said.
Rivermaid Trading Co. looks for peak
Rivermaid Trading Co. has installed bottom cameras on its packing line that can detect cracking in the nose of cherries, said Kyle Persky, sales manager at the Lodi, Calif., company. That extra vision is particularly important after rain events, he said. The company expects peak availability for California cherries from May 8 through June 6. “We expect a solid four-plus weeks to promote California cherries,” he said. In addition, Rivermaid is expanding its Northwest cherry program, which the company began in 2020. “We will be packing Northwest cherries in California from early June until early July,” he said. “We expect a smooth transition with the expansion of our Northwest cherry program.” The company expects sufficient labor for the crop, he said. “COVID-19 has required us to implement strict protocols in the field and packing shed,” Persky said.
Stemilt Growers looks for strong cherry year
Big consumer demand will follow what is expected to be an improved crop of California cherries, said Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee, Wash. “We expect great consumer demand for cherries as we head into the new season,” Shales said. Stemilt is encouraging retailers to give cherries great placement locations as they promote the crop. “Cherries are an impulse purchase and shoppers need to be reminded when they come back into season through a display in a great location and with high-quality fruit.” Sufficient labor is expected for the California cherry crop, but that does not mean finding enough workers or meeting the challenge of COVID-19 is easy. “Labor is always a challenge,” Shales said. “We have many protocols (masks, distance, dividers, temperature checks, etc.) in place throughout our operations for COVID-19 and will continue to ensure those are followed.” California is expected to harvest well into June, so there may be an overlap between that and the Northwest crop, Shales said. “The consumer reception for cherries every year is incredible, and we are working hard at Stemilt to deliver world famous cherries that delight consumers,” she said.
