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In Central Florida closer to the west coast, the first week of March was peak season for the 1,700 acres of strawberries at Astin Farms and the Astin Strawberry Exchange in Plant City and Wimauma, Fla. The strawberry crop usually starts about the end of November and lasts through the start of April, said Payton Astin, marketing director. “We began the season with an unusual amount of cold weather, which ultimately caused a bit of a delay for the entire industry,” Astin said. “As the season has progressed, the weather has become more ideal.” Since then, strawberry yields are rising. The overall volume could be a tad lower this year due to the slightly slower start. Their farms’ main varieties are sunshine and brilliance, both developed by University of Florida’s institute.
Astin Farms is also preparing for blueberry season, which it will begin harvesting in the coming weeks. Demand is great this year, Astin said. “We believe that now, even more than ever, consumers want to nourish their bodies to proactively stay healthy given the current pandemic situation,” she said.
