Raspberries

Strong Demand Awaits Berries as Harvests Ramp Up

Fri, 15 May 2026 21:40:26 GMT

Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries continue to lure shoppers into the produce department.

According to the 2026 edition of The Packer’s Fresh Trends survey of consumer habits, 77% of shoppers purchased blueberries in the past 12 months, 61% bought blackberries and 59% took home some raspberries.

In the berry category, blueberries are second only to strawberries in popularity, and consumers now want and expect to have them year-round, says Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and the North American Blueberry Council.

The domestic season is just getting started, with Florida, Georgia and California currently shipping fruit, he says. Harvest will next spread to states like Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Indiana, New Jersey and North Carolina.

“There have been interesting weather patterns all across the country that have helped some areas and hurt others, but overall, there should be plenty of blueberries to go around,” Cronquist says.

Bounce-Back Season for the Garden State

New Jersey blueberries typically start picking around June 8, says Joe Atchison III, assistant secretary for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

The height of the New Jersey season runs from late June through late July.

“Thus far in 2026, conditions have been indicating an excellent harvest of top-quality berries,” Atchison says. “New Jersey blueberries have a reputation [for] being bigger, better and more flavorful. They are a healthy snack that consumers crave.”

Growers in the state lost more than 25% of their crop to extreme heat last July, Atchison adds. This year, however, New Jersey is expecting a full harvest — about 38 million pounds.

Naturipe Farms

Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms LLC supplies blueberries, blackberries and raspberries year-round by rotating growing regions as the seasons change, says Joe Klick, associate vice president of product management.

“Right now, we’re in the thick of U.S. production, bringing in high volumes and strong promotional opportunities for all three berries,” he said in late April.

Naturipe’s growers continue to invest in proprietary varieties that have driven improvements in sweetness, size and texture, Klick adds.

“Our Envoy blueberry variety is a showstopper,” he explains. “Key varieties are offering an elevated flavor profile that doesn’t taste like anything else in the produce aisle right now.”

Blackberry sales also are trending upward, particularly from Georgia, where quality and flavor have been amazing, Klick says.

(Photo courtesy of California Giant Berry Farms)

California Giant Berry Farms

Watsonville, Calif., blueberry volume from California Giant Berry Farms is projected to be up slightly in 2026 compared to last year because of newer varieties and solid performance across growing regions, according to Brad Peterson, director of business development for the company.

“The quality of the 2026 berry crop across our blueberry, raspberry and blackberry programs is shaping up to be excellent,” he says.

North Bay Produce

Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce is a year-round shipper of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, says Aaron Hunter, who serves on the company’s sales, procurement and category management team.

Peak seasons vary for each type of berry depending on whether they’re imported or domestic, he says.

During the summer, North Bay Produce will source these berries from about eight states in the U.S. as well as Mexico, Canada, Morocco and Peru.

“Quality has been excellent not only on our Sekoya varieties of blueberries, but our Erandy blackberries have also been a big hit,” he says.

Fruitist

Century City, Calif.-based Fruitist supplies berries year-round through a globally diversified growing network, explains Steve Magami, the company’s co-founder and CEO.

“By operating across multiple microclimates in regions including Peru, Mexico, Oregon, Morocco, Egypt, China, India, Chile, Romania and the U.S., we’re able to maintain a consistent 52-week supply across blueberries,” he says.

And the company continues to scale up its lines of blackberries, raspberries and cherries, Magami adds.

Why Berry Growers See Sustainable Operations as Essential

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:38:11 GMT

Innovative farming techniques, the latest energy conservation programs and efficiencies to reduce their carbon footprint are some of the practices berry grower-shippers have implemented to meet their sustainability goals.

“Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it has become a core expectation across the supply chain,” says Brad Peterson, director of business development for Watsonville, Calif.-based California Giant Berry Farms.

The firm’s trade partners are increasingly focused on topics that directly impact their business, such as packaging regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility and social responsibility initiatives like ethical sourcing and compliance programs, he says.

“Responsible production and food safety standards remain central to these conversations, with GlobalG.A.P. certification reinforcing trust and transparency,” Peterson says.

Sustainability also plays an important role at Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms LLC, says Janis McIntosh, director of marketing innovation and sustainability.

“Sustainability at Naturipe starts on the farm and is part of our everyday decision-making,” she says. “Our growers are constantly testing, learning and improving how they farm.”

Because Naturipe’s growers are owners, they’re invested in making sure their farms thrive for the next generation, McIntosh adds.

“That mindset drives real action,” she says.

Sustainability is embedded across all operations at Century City, Calif.-based Fruitist, from how berries are grown to how they are packed and distributed, says Steve Magami, co-founder and CEO.

“Because we operate a vertically integrated model, we’re able to implement and scale these practices more consistently across the supply chain,” he says.

Late last year, California Giant achieved B Corp certification, which Peterson describes as “a milestone that signifies we meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.”

The certification holds the company accountable to its stakeholders and ensures the business operates as “a force for good from the inside out,” he says.

The company’s involvement in sustainability is visible across several key areas of its operations.

“We have invested in a solar array at our Santa Maria, Calif., cooling facility, which helps offset grid electricity use and reduce our carbon footprint,” Peterson says.

“We require 100% grower compliance with integrated pest management and were the first to offer Bee Better Certified blueberries, which requires our partners to dedicate at least 5% of their land to creating high-quality pollinator habitats,” he adds.

And through California Giant’s supplier code of conduct, the company maintains a 100% sign-off rate among its growers, ensuring alignment on human rights and safety, Peterson says.

The company’s philanthropic efforts have resulted in more than $290,000 donated to community causes and food banks.

At Naturipe Farms, growers are actively testing new varieties and farming techniques to improve soil health, reduce inputs and increase yields, McIntosh says.

“They are strategic in their water usage, adjusting in real time based on variety, weather and field conditions,” she says.

Though Naturipe growers have always focused on field-level sustainability, their work in recent years has expanded and transformed into a learning center, McIntosh says.

“Our grower-owners have now set aside specific acreage just for testing new and innovative sustainable practices,” she says. “These fully staffed ranches implement, monitor and report on various trials from new pollinator and cover crop mixes to irrigation and machinery calibration.”

Their research is shared inside and outside of the company.

Fruitist became the first fruit company in Peru to achieve Level 3 carbon footprint accreditation and is on track for net zero by 2030, Magami says.

“Sustainability measures include advanced irrigation that reduces water use by 20% per hectare, solar installations covering up to 35% of electricity at certain facilities and planting 5,000 acres of forest reserves in Peru,” he says.

The Berry Boom: New Genetics and Strategic Sizing Drive 2026 Category Growth

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 18:03:39 GMT

As the produce industry moves into the 2026 season, the berry category continues to solidify its position as a powerhouse of the produce department. Fueled by a combination of high-performing new varieties, a smooth transition between growing regions and data-driven retail strategies, the big four berries remain the primary drivers of growth and consumer excitement.

Industry leaders are reporting a highly favorable outlook for the current shipping window.

Nick Wishnatzki, public relations director of Wish Farms, anticipates peak Florida strawberry volumes from late February through the first 10 days of March.

“Overall, the Florida strawberry crop looks healthier than last year’s crop,” Wishnatzki says, adding that production in California’s Oxnard and East Side Santa Maria regions is ahead of schedule, facilitating a smooth transition in mid-to-late March.

Jerry Moran, vice president of sales for Naturipe Farms, echoes this optimism.

“Seasonal transitions are shaping up well,” he says, adding that the move from Central Mexico into California and Florida has been smooth due to varietal overlap.

“Weather always has the potential to create short-term challenges, especially in winter, but we do not anticipate major supply gaps,” Moran says. “Continued investment in protected growing environments, diversified regions, and logistics has helped us shorten and soften those transition periods.”

Overall, Moran says the peak shipping windows look fairly similar to last year, “but we’re seeing better consistency thanks to improved varieties and tighter execution during transitions. Strawberries and blueberries are both showing strong volumes during their traditional peaks, with strawberries benefiting from expanded acreage and blueberries from newer genetics that hold quality longer. On the domestic side, the blueberry peak in Georgia is shaping up to be especially strong, setting a solid tone for the season.

“On the premium side, we’re seeing steady growth in varieties that deliver standout flavor, even if yields are slightly lower,” Moran says. “Retailers are increasingly willing to make space for those berries because they taste great and drive repeat purchases.”

The Future of Flavor: Varietal Innovation

A major theme for the 2026 season is the successful deployment of proprietary and university-developed genetics.

Wish Farms is highlighting the Ember and Encore varieties as a gold standard for Florida producers, noting their exceptional yield, disease resistance and fruit quality.

“Our company is laser focused on finding the best-tasting new varieties, so that characteristic ranks high on our list of requirements,” Wishnatzki says. “New varietal development is truly the future of our industry, as we not only want great tasting varieties, but ones that make farming sustainable, specifically when it comes to yield and disease resistance.

“University of Florida varieties continue to be the gold standard for strawberry producers in the state,” he continues. “The Ember and Encore varieties have shown very strong yield and quality this season. We are also proud members of the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium, which is working on some exciting developments coming down the line.”

Furthermore, Wish Farms’ proprietary breeding company, Berry Sweet Research, is advancing toward the commercialization of new premium raspberry and blackberry varieties.

“Entering its fourth year of rigorous seedling evaluation, BSR is setting new benchmarks in innovation, flavor and performance in its mission of developing premium raspberry and blackberry varieties,” Wishnatzki says. “At the helm is Carlos Fear, a renowned plant breeder and horticulturalist with 35 years of industry experience.

Fear spent much of his career at Driscoll’s, where he played a pivotal role developing industry-leading berry varieties, Wishnatzki adds. He is the inventor or co-inventor on 35 patents spanning raspberries, blackberries and strawberries.

“Each year, BSR assesses 10,000 seedlings, and advances approximately 100 elite selections for further evaluation across three strategic trial locations in California and Mexico. Selections are chosen based on exceptional yield, superior postharvest performance, and standout flavor criteria that reflect the evolving demands of growers, retailers and consumers,” Wishnatzki says. “BSR is preparing to launch full tunnel pre-commercial trials by 2026, featuring two standout raspberry selections. BSR anticipates expanding pre-commercial trials to include two to four selections with growers, paving the way for the release of up to two top-performing varieties for commercial production in 2027.”

Naturipe Farms is also seeing success with newer genetics that hold quality longer, particularly in the blueberry segment. Moran emphasized the importance of balancing high-yield varieties with premium-flavor genetics.

“Those premium berries create excitement and give retailers a way to trade shoppers up,” Moran says, adding that shoppers are increasingly willing to pay more for berries they can trust to taste good every time.

The CSC’s 2025 Strawberry Shopper Playbook reveals that the strawberry category added nearly $500 million in incremental sales, with dollar sales growing by 10%.

(Image courtesy of California Strawberry Commission)

Data-Driven Success: The $500 Million Gain

New research from the California Strawberry Commission underscores the massive financial impact of the category. The CSC’s 2025 Strawberry Shopper Playbook reveals that the strawberry category added nearly $500 million in incremental sales, with dollar sales growing by 10%.

Key takeaways for retailers from the CSC research include:

Volume leadership — Strawberries represent 60% of total berry category volume and drove 61% of incremental growth.
The 32-ounce powerhouse — Larger 32-ounce packages accounted for 68% of incremental sales, delivering $332 million in revenue.
Promotion power — Strawberry promotions generated a 36% volume lift on an average discount of only 22%.

Meeting the Health-Conscious Consumer

The sustained growth of the category is deeply tied to the health and wellness movement. Wishnatzki also points out that Florida’s winter timing is a major advantage, as fresh berries arrive just as shoppers are focusing on New Year’s resolutions and spring resets.

“We continue to see strong growth in the berry category year after year, especially with the health and wellness movement shaping consumer behavior,” he says. “Shoppers are increasingly prioritizing nutrient-rich, whole foods, and no category is better positioned than berries. Consumption is surging across all berry types, with strawberries leading the charge during Florida’s winter season. Packed with vitamin C, fiber and heart-healthy benefits, strawberries align perfectly with consumer goals for better eating.”

As the industry looks toward the rest of 2026, the focus remains clear: delivering consistent flavor and quality. When these elements are met, Moran says, berries remain one of the fastest-turning categories in produce, with shoppers willing to purchase every week.

Mexican Fresh Market Waste Stream Squeezes Washington Frozen Raspberry Growers

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:33:57 GMT

While the raspberries grown in Washington state are destined for processing, there has been a significant impact of Mexican imports on this industry, says Gavin Willis, executive director of the grower-led Washington Red Raspberry Commission, which represents growers and processors of about 90% of the country’s frozen raspberry supply.

Willis says, much like other industries that have spoken up about the damage of low-priced imports, growers have been facing mounting pressure for almost a decade.

“We were coming off of the 2024 harvest year, which wasn’t a great one,” Willis says. “And so our growers were feeling those impacts and pressures, especially strongly. And we’re a relatively small industry, almost like 99.8% of Washington-grown raspberries are for the frozen market. We’re growing different varieties than for the fresh market. Harvest practices are different, but since we’re such a small industry, we don’t have some of the same financial resources to pursue an anti-dumping case, for example, or do some of the more aggressive lobbying in dealing with these issues.”

Waste Stream Turned Revenue Stream

Willis says that while his state’s growers cultivate different varieties that are better suited for the frozen processing market, Mexican growers have used a different approach, selling fresh-market varieties that are unsuitable for fresh consumption to U.S. puree processors at a lower price that makes it difficult for U.S. growers to compete. Willis says these varieties have different color and lower Brix or sugars.

“What we’re seeing is that food processing companies are finding ways to say, instead of taking a premium Washington raspberry puree, you can take a puree that’s a byproduct of the Mexican fresh market, add in a little bit of sugar and a little bit of beet juice, mix it in with some other ingredients, and they’re betting on the fact that the consumer isn’t going to be able to tell the difference side by side,” he says. “You absolutely can, but once you put it in the consumer packaged good, for example, and it’s on the grocery store shelf, it can be tough for consumers to discern those types of differences.”

Willis says the pressure growers face in Washington from imports is a byproduct of the fresh raspberry industry in Mexico.

“It’s not like we’re trying to push other growers in other areas out of business. In the case of these growers, they’re making their profit margins on their fresh produce sales,” he says.

Willis notes that historically growers would leave the nonmarketable fresh fruit in the field or on the ground to be composted. He says what has likely brought part of this pressure on is that Mexican growers now face pest pressure from spotted wing drosophila, and instead of leaving fruit that is unsuitable for the fresh market to rot in the field, growers have to eliminate all fruit, as fresh fruit could attract females that could lay eggs in the culled fruit and increase pest pressure.

“They have to get that fruit out of the field,” he says. “Once it’s out of the field, they’re like, ‘Hey we need to do something with it. Do we pay a couple cents a pound to send it to the dump or does someone else pay us a couple of cents a pound and they take it off our hands?’”

And he says he also understands why a processor might opt for Mexican-grown puree.

“It’s tough to really blame a food processing company when they’re being offered somewhat similar product, even if it’s not the same, at a 40% discount,” he says. “And that’s not something that our growers can compete with.”

The USMCA Lifeline

Willis says the industry didn’t really face the pressures and challenges it does now, and growers didn’t foresee the impact imports would have in the future.

“As a small industry, the [U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement] review provides an opportunity for our voice to be heard where in other ways might not be,” he says.

Willis says the federal level has been receptive to the concerns brought forth by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission. He says a challenge is that this is a concern for dumping impacting the domestic market, and there’s also many different specialty crop commodities facing different challenges as USMCA is under review.

“There’s support for what we’re trying to do, but we’re in a really unique position, and we’re a small industry,” he says. “So, the potential actions that could provide benefits to our growers may not have support from other portions of the specialty crop sector.”

Willis says he and his team will continue to advocate for the industry, noting that the growers he represents are open to any solution.

“We recognize that there’s a larger framework that we’re working within as well, and so we’re willing to hear suggestions from other stakeholders on potential solutions and fixes for this issue,” he says.

He says it’s important to look at this as a food security issue, keeping production in the U.S.

“Generally across specialty crop industries, there’s a recognition that there’s a lot of challenges that specialty crop growers are facing, but it is important from a food security perspective that we continue to grow those products in the U.S.,” he says.

How to Help

Willis says an important point of contention, too, is that Washington raspberry growers are not a direct competitor of Mexican raspberry growers.

“We’re not competing directly against them, and we’re not trying to take away any of their profits,” he says. “This is really a waste stream for them that’s really hurting our growers.”

For processors looking to help, Willis says an easy fix is to purchase U.S.-grown produce and for consumers to look for “Product of the U.S.A.” on the label.

“U.S.-grown product is, we believe, a superior product to what you can get elsewhere, and you’re supporting American businesses when you buy U.S.-grown,” he says.

How Cornell's New Raspberry Varieties Help Cover Growing Season

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:04:53 GMT

Cornell University’s two newest raspberry varieties — Crimson Beauty and Crimson Blush — offer growers two different growth structures and two different growing windows, says Courtney Weber, who leads Cornell AgriTech’s berry breeding program.

The new varieties join other releases by the university, including Crimson Treasure, Crimson Giant and Crimson Night.

“They kind of bracket the season, and they actually cover the majority of the season,” explains Weber, who is also professor and head of Cornell’s School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Crimson Beauty offers large, glossy red berries with a strong, bold raspberry flavor that includes tropical undertones.

(Photo courtesy of Courtney Weber)

Crimson Beauty

Crimson Beauty is an early-season primocane, which begins harvesting in late July.

“There’s nothing on the market in this window,” Weber says.

Crimson Beauty has an upright structure, and canes tend to be around 5 feet to 5.5 feet tall.

Weber says the variety is suited for tunnel production to get a jump on growth.

“Because it’s so early, you want to encourage as much growth as you can, and you want to warm up the season early, with tunnels that get them growing so that they can get as much height as possible,” he says.

Weber says Crimson Beauty boasts a full raspberry flavor and a juicy mouthfeel and small seeds.

“It’s large-fruited,” he says. “It’s a glossy kind of medium red. I think it’s very attractive.”

The variety has shown good resilience in the field, he says, noting test plots are still producing eight years later, which is a long lifespan for a perennial berry.

Crimson Blush

At the end of the growing season, Weber says, is Crimson Blush. There’s about a 45-day difference in maturity between it and Crimson Beauty, he adds.

“Both of them hold their color well, in that they don’t darken to that overripe kind of maroon color that you see in some of the older varieties,” he explains.

Weber says Crimson Blush offers a wider fruit that is plump and luscious in appearance and eats well. It also holds well, he says, starting in September with warm temperatures and then fruits into the cool temperatures of November. Crimson Blush produces fruit that is blush pink to a light red and is a heavy producer.

“It’s a taller, more vigorous plant,” Weber says. “Canes can be 7 feet tall. That’s due in part because it has so much more time to grow before it flowers. Crimson Blush is an extremely heavy crop load, and part of that’s just the size of the cane.”

Weber says some of that is due to early fruiting varieties not having as much cane to grow on, given the shorter growing season, where later fall varieties have more time in the year to grow canes, and thus, more fruit.

“We’ve been very happy with the yield on both of those,” he says.

While Crimson Beauty might be more self-supporting due it its growth structure, Crimson Blush needs a trellis system for support. And both varieties, too,

Weber says he sees good potential for Crimson Beauty in the South. Crimson Treasure, another Cornell release, has done well in North Carolina, and he says he could see similar success with Crimson Beauty.

From AI to Genetics, Innovation is Fueling the Berry Category

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 18:50:04 GMT

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Berry innovation was on full display at the recent Aneberries trade fair, where Hortifrut CEO Hector Lujan sat down with The Packer to share the vertically integrated company’s vision for the future of the category.

Founded in Chile, the global berry company operates its own commercial platforms as well as partnerships with U.S. growers including Naturipe, Michigan Blueberry Growers and Munger Farms. Globally, Hortifrut has a presence in India, China, North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa.

What role does innovation play at Hortifrut?

Lujan: It’s huge. Innovation is in our core values. We try to be a very innovative company that is always looking to challenge the status quo, but also reinvent ourselves in terms of how we farm, how we take product to market, and how we inform and bring people closer to our company.

We also expect a high level of execution. Innovation comes with the ability to bring it forward. So, we try to merge that in our culture, and hopefully it shows up. We also find that innovation generates a lot of really strong energy and excitement within the company that helps move us forward. And that’s been a testament to Hortifrut throughout its history.

How important are genetics to the future of blueberries and your company’s future?

Hortifrut has been a strong blueberry company, but we’re getting stronger in all the berry categories, and genetics are at the forefront of that. If you look at what’s transpired in the berry industry over the last 10 years, it’s really been driven by the genetic improvements, farming improvements, go-to-market improvements — but genetics are also at the forefront of creating a better eating experience with consumers and moving our products forward.

We are very engaged with our own genetics, but we’re also tapping into and looking to partner with different genetic houses to bring the best genetics to our farming. We invest in genetics on our own. We’re vertically integrated that way, but we’re also strategically partnering with other genetic houses, because we want to bring the best genetics to the table and products being represented under the Hortifrut, Naturipe labels.

What advancements are you seeing in the berry category and how is technology accelerating the pace of change?

Everybody’s innovating. And AI (artificial intelligence) has made leveraging information faster, but also much more constructive in terms of making changes and analyzing data for better decision making. AI is bringing a lot of really good tools that we can use as we build our databases.

Everybody you talk to in the industry is asking how much data is there in the community? How are you bringing that data together to empower your organization, be it with improved farming practices, better decision making, logistics, and even in genetics AI is becoming huge in terms of reading the recommendations of crossings. So, it’s playing a huge role.

There are other improvements in technology that are coming through in how we farm and automate harvesting or assisted harvesting. I think the most pronounced advancements have been through assisted harvesting, tools that allow for the harvester to be more productive.

At Fruit Attraction 2024 in Madrid, Hortifrut launched BerryReality , a virtual reality project designed to transform the way the industry and consumers connect with the company’s growing experience, innovation and sustainability practices. Is that helping to share Hortifrut’s story?

What you witnessed was our virtual reality tour that we’re trying to engage now and also use it to bring people closer to our company. We’re consistently trying to advance that forward, to have — even with AI — a conversation with people that brings them to a farm experience. We like to innovate in the marketplace. And we like to innovate in our farms.

Berry sales continue to boom in the U.S. Dollar sales for the berry category were over $12.5 billion, according to Circana OmniMarket Integrated Fresh retail data for the 52-week period ending June 15, 2025, up 7.5% over a year ago. What’s driving demand?

The competitive landscape in the berry industry has gotten tighter and tighter. And I think it’s stronger. Where the berry industry is growing because of the flavor profiles and the improvements in genetics, but it’s consumer demand for [a high-level] eating experience that’s really driving that growth. So, I think companies now are much more keen to ask, ‘How can we add value together with our customers, our retailers, and drive opportunity for the farmers through better eating experiences?’

And what we’re seeing is better genetics in every single berry category — in raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries — which is creating a much more competitive environment, but it’s also really good for the consumer because the eating experience keeps getting better and better, and that’s driving opportunity, growth and demand in the berry category.

The other factor driving sales is berries are getting discovered worldwide. What we’re seeing is that because of the health benefits of berries coupled with the eating experience, emerging markets are becoming huge opportunities. The world is eager to get berries into their stomachs. So, our share of stomach is growing worldwide.

A Fruit Logistica in Berlin earlier this year, Hortifrut sampled blueberries on the vine. When will you bring them to market and will they be available in the U.S.?

They’re available seasonally, because it’s certain varieties that we can harvest on the vine that need to mature evenly. So, it’s not a product that we have year-round. We have it in Europe right now. Actually, last week we started shipping the first berries on the vine into the Nordics, and it has been a great success.

It’s been a very rewarding experience. We’re seeing an even better shelf life with the berries on the vine , and people are excited to get them. So, it’s a novelty. It’s not something that we have done yet on a very big scale, but it’s something that is exciting for us — part of our innovation, part of our working with retailers to offer them something that’s unique and brings a differential to them. It also gets more people engaged with blueberries and is bringing new customers to the category.

As far as bringing blueberries on the vine to the United States, we’ve started those conversations and I’d say we’re in the ground stages of looking at how to enter that market.

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Berry Industry Says Tariffs Could Raise Prices, Reduce Consumption

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:05:00 GMT

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — At the recent Aneberries trade fair, which brought together some 3,000 industry professionals from around the world, members of the global berry industry said they’re watching the Trump administration’s tariffs and trade deals closely.

Hortifrut, a vertically integrated company with its own commercial platforms as well as partnerships with growers including Naturipe, Michigan Blueberry Growers and Munger Farms, has a global presence in India, China, North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa.

The Packer sat down with Hector Lujan, CEO of Hortifrut, during Aneberries to learn if the administration’s tariffs and trade moves have impacted the global company.

Hortifrut CEO Hector Lujan discussed tariffs and trade at Aneberries 2025.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

“It’s starting to. Tariffs are an obstacle because they’re taking value out of the whole supply chain and making it more difficult to bring something in that’s very healthy to the American public. I think it can also lead to reduced consumption or availability because of economic pressure, but also because of affordability in the marketplace … and that’s a concern for us,” says Lujan, who sees consumers being impacted most by tariffs on berries.

“I think the consumer loses out the most in the whole chain in terms of how we’ve secured product for the U.S. in North America. North America’s food security is based on production domestically and imports,” he says.

Walk any U.S. supermarket’s produce department and much of what’s available is imported, Lujan says.

“The U.S. probably has one of the most diverse product offerings in the world. We can find most products year-round — very healthy products in the produce aisle,” he says. “And if we look at food as medicine, you’re getting your medicine there at the produce section. And the affordability of trade has made that possible.

“I don’t think we can produce berries year-round in the United States in the abundance that we need to and at the price point the consumer wants,” he adds.

Lujan says the U.S. berry industry has partnered with the rest of the world to ensure fresh product is available continuously and at an affordable price, and tariffs would upset this well-balanced supply chain.

Aneberries President Miguel Curiel says, ultimately, consumers will pay the price of tariffs.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

Miguel Curiel, president of Aneberries (Mexico’s National Association of Berry Exporters) and vice president and general manager at Driscoll’s Mexico, agrees.

“If we continue to have a free trade without import tariffs, I can see the industry growing, because the consumer will continue demand at similar prices,” he says. “Now if there’s a tariff, clearly, in the short term the growers and the supply side takes the bigger hit of that tariff. But in the mid-to-long-term, it is the consumer who takes the hit. There’s no doubt about that. Yes, [tariffs] concern everybody, but the concern is more about uncertainty as to what rate will be applied.”

South American Season

“We’re getting into the season in Peru, where the first tariffs might hit at 10% and then Chile, and that’s a concern, because we’re going to ship blueberries in September, October, November and December, when there’s almost no blueberry production in the United States,” says Lujan.

He sees having the continuity and consistency of imported berry supplies that fill the gaps when the U.S. is not in production, as benefiting the entire fresh berry supply chain down to the consumer.

“Imports drive demand for domestic consumption as well, because you don’t disengage from the consumer,” he says. “It’s about driving that per capita consumption year-round.”

Curiel says Aneberries is committed to providing the North American market with the very best strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, and because of the perishability of those crops, the vast majority of them are sold within North America.

“The value that we deliver to consumers is freshness, as we’re able to deliver those three products to the shelf within three days,” he says. “By day number four or five, the consumer has the product in their home, so that limits the regions that compete.”

Canada, the U.S. and Mexico’s growing seasons for those berries also complement each other, he says.

“Blueberries are a different animal,” Curiel says. “They really compete on a world market. We’re mainly in the U.S. market, but we’re competing with fruit from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Morocco and even fruit from the United States and Canada almost at the same time. So, blueberries are very competitive and more of a world arena.”

Of tariffs, Curiel says the North American berry industry needs collaboration.

“I think we need to respect what each government is doing. The U.S. government is taking some actions, the Mexican government as well, and also Canada. It’s a matter of what the rules of the game will be. Once that’s settled, the industry will adapt,” he says.

The need for North American berry industry collaboration took center stage at Aneberries, July 24, during a session titled: “Berries Without Borders — A Global and Comprehensive Approach From International Organizations.”

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

USMCA: Renegotiation or Renewal?

The need for North American berry industry collaboration also took center stage at Aneberries, July 24, during a session titled: “Berries Without Borders — A Global and Comprehensive Approach From International Organizations.”

During the session, Kasey Cronquist, president of U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), spoke to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is up for its six-year review in July 2026, offering the three parties the opportunity to notify each other of their approval or opposition to renew the agreement in 2036.

“Come July of next year we will be paying attention to all the tea leaves — what’s going to happen and what these three countries decide — whether or not it’s going to be a full renegotiation of the agreement or a renewal of USMCA,” Cronquist said. “I think that’s the stage that’s been set.

“I think we’re in good shape with what has been said by this administration and with our trading partners, as long as we remain in compliance as a category and as an industry, we should be able to maintain free access,” he continued. “But I also think this administration has been clear that they like to negotiate deals. Far be it for me to suggest what those deals would be and for what purposes, but I think it’s really important that we’re all working together to show the value that this part of our industry brings to the U.S. economy.”

Seeking to showcase the value of the blueberry industry, the USHBC recently published an economic impact report that highlights the imported value of blueberries to the U.S.

USHBC says the findings of the study show that blueberry growers and importers have a significant impact on the U.S. economy. Overall, says USHBC, the growers and importers of blueberries from Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Peru contribute nearly $9.1 billion in annual economic impact to the U.S. economy. Supported by both domestic growers and international import partners, the industry also creates and sustains 61,676 full-time equivalent jobs each year and generates $3.3 billion in labor income.

“Being able to tell that story and being able to explain to this administration what it is that this industry brings to the national economy, even if it’s imported, is a really important page for us all to be on,” said Cronquist.

Cronquist said the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Chile and Peru need to find a way to all work together and find commonalities, so “there’s no winners and no losers.”

“We know blueberries, which is true for all berries, is not an annual crop that’s available year-round in the U.S., so we are dependent on imported product,” he said. “We can’t provide all the berries the U.S. needs, and the U.S. consumer wants berries 365 days a year.”

Your next read:

California Giant Berry Farms Highlights How Berries Are Always on the Menu

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:07:09 GMT

Watsonville, Calif.-based California Giant Berry Farms says the grower, shipper and wholesaler will showcase its offerings of premium strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries during the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference.

The company says it will tout its reliable year-round supply of fresh berries, noting berries are always on the menu with California Giant Berry Farms. The company will showcase its full line of fresh berries, conventional and organic at booth No. 102.

California Giant says research consistently shows consumers associate berries with freshness, naturalness and health benefits, making them highly appealing for menu innovation in the restaurant industry.

Berries continue to be a consumer favorite in the produce aisle, with a high percentage of households reporting purchases, citing data from The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2025 survey .

California Giant says this widespread consumer familiarity and preference for berries at retail translates directly into a strong demand for them on foodservice menus, offering operators a clear path to satisfy customer expectations and enhance menu appeal.

The company says its Giant Blueberries, with impressive size and flavor, are available in good volume through August.

“Berries are a true powerhouse for any foodservice operation,” says Tim Youmans, vice president of sales for California Giant Berry Farms. “Beyond their vibrant color and incredible flavor, they offer versatility: from breakfast and desserts to savory applications and refreshing beverages. Incorporating fresh berries allows chefs to effortlessly elevate dishes, meet consumer demand for healthy and appealing options, and ultimately, drive customer satisfaction and repeat business.”

Aneberries International Trade Fair Brings Global Berry Industry to Mexico

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:59:57 GMT

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Mexico’s National Association of Berry Exporters, or Aneberries, began as an initiative to represent the country’s entire berry supply, to provide technical training to smaller growers and to secure Mexico’s place in the global berry export value chain.

Today, the trade fair and conference has grown to become much more, says Aneberries President Miguel Ángel Curiel, who is also vice president and general manager at Driscoll’s México.

Held July 23-24, this week marks the 15^th anniversary of the Aneberries trade fair, an event that drew a record 3,000 attendees and exhibitors to Mexico’s Expo Guadalajara.

“The congress we have today has evolved as an area where, if you want to know the current state of the Mexican berry industry, you come to this show, because that’s what you’re going to hear — what is happening,” Curiel told The Packer. “And as people come out of this event [they’re] able to answer the questions they had about the business, they know where the industry is trending, they know what is hurting one of the each crops that we have here in Mexico — each of the four berries — and what are the opportunities and within that be able to connect with many players that are in the show today.”

Curiel says the Mexican berry industry has grown significantly in the last 30 years and now produces about 500 million kilos of blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries a year. And with this growth, the Aneberries event has attracted an increasingly international audience of importers and exporters.

“We’re here for several reasons, not the least of which is our general interest in building the Mexico domestic market,” said Kevin Hamilton, vice president of global marketing communications for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). “USHBC operates in 10 different countries related to trying to grow demand and find a destination home for all of this increased production that’s coming.

“Certainly Mexico, with the market that’s here — it’s a growing middle-class market,” Hamilton continued. “It’s a growing economy, growing general household wealth. We have a high interest in growing this market for not only the domestic producers, but also for U.S. exporters as well.”

Hamilton says that given the growth in an increasingly global berry supply, the need to drive demand in new markets is key.

“Production is growing — not only in the U.S., not only in Mexico, but certainly Peru and many other destinations as well. We can expect that volume is going to continue to increase on the supply side,” he said. “So, what we need to do is shift the demand curve and find homes in terms of demand for this product, so that profitability can be maintained across the board, especially for our U.S. growers that live in a regime in which our costs are just generally higher.

“As a result, we need to do everything we can from a marketing perspective and as an industry to grow demand, not only in the U.S., but in other large markets like Mexico, and do it in a way that’s profitable for the industry to maintain long-term viability,” he added.

California strawberry producers also see opportunities for growth with Mexico.

“Aneberries is the most important berry conference in Mexico, and it was our great honor as a strawberry commission to be invited for the first time this year to participate in the conference,” says Chris Christian, vice president market insights with the California Strawberry Commission. “It is important because our industries are very much interconnected for strawberries, between California and Mexico.”

California strawberry exports to Mexico have experienced accelerated growth in recent years.

“We’ve seen significant increase in our exports from California to Mexico,” Christian says. “Since 2022 the market size has nearly doubled, meaning the amount of our exports have nearly doubled over that time period and are over $100 million in value today. And so, Mexico is an important market for us. It is our second-largest export market behind Canada.”

Your next read:

What’s Driving the Boom in Berries

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 03:10:21 GMT

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The Aneberries international conference and expo held July 23-24, welcomed a record 3,000 attendees to its 15^th annual event focused on the global berry market. Aneberries kicked off with a look at berry consumer shopping trends from The Packer’s 2025 Fresh Trends report.

Based on a survey of more than 1,100 consumers across the U.S., Fresh Trends 2025 surveyed shoppers about their fresh fruit and vegetable purchasing habits in 50 commodities — including berries — over the prior 12 months. Fielded in February, Fresh Trends 2025 also surveyed five generations (Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, baby boomers and traditionalists) about what and why they buy in the produce department.

The Packer’s Editorial Director Jennifer Strailey presented Fresh Trends 2025 at the Aneberries conference and expo.

(Photo courtesy of Aneberries)

Berries by the Numbers

The total berry category continues to dominate. Dollar sales for the berry category were over $12.5 billion, according to Circana OmniMarket Integrated Fresh retail data for the 52-week period ending June 15, 2025, up 7.5% over a year ago. That’s dollar sales more than twice what the next leading produce category — grapes — posted for that same time period.

When it comes to berry types most purchased, Fresh Trends 2025 finds that strawberries and blueberries lead the category with 54% of consumers reporting purchasing the berries in the last 12 months. Blackberries came in next at 34%, and raspberries were the least-purchased berry in the category at 30%.

(Prostock-studio, Adobe Stock)

Blackberries Resonate With Older Shoppers

Fresh Trends 2025 found that higher-earning consumers with an annual household income greater than $100,000 were the most frequent purchaser of blackberries at 46%.

Older consumers were also among the most frequent purchasers of conventional blackberries with 71% of those aged 50 to 59 and 73% of those aged 60 or older reporting they purchased them in the last 12 months.

A look at conventional compared to organic blackberry sales shows a decided consumer preference for conventional. Of those who purchased blackberries in the last 12 months, 52% said they prefer conventional blackberries compared with 20% of those who only purchased organic. Twenty-five percent of consumers reported buying both conventional and organic blackberries.

But a key takeaway from Fresh Trends 2025 was that younger consumers are buying more organic produce, and despite being most sensitive to food inflation, they are also more willing to pay more for organic. This is evident in the berry category as well with 36% of Gen Z and 24% of millennials reporting purchasing organic blackberries compared with just 15% of Gen X and 5% of baby boomers.

Blueberries are tied with strawberries for the most-purchased berry.

(Cozine, Adobe Stock)

Something Blue, Something New

Fresh Trends 2025 found that 54% of consumers purchased blueberries in the last 12 months — the same percentage as last year’s survey but higher than the 37% reporting so in Fresh Trends 2023.

As with blackberries, higher-income consumers were most likely to report a blueberry purchase, with 64% of shoppers earning more than $100,000 in annual household income indicating purchases. Older consumers were also more likely to purchase blueberries, with 60% of those aged 50 to 59 and 59% of those aged 60 or older putting blueberries in their shopping baskets.

Among blueberry consumers, the majority, or 52%, prefer to buy conventionally grown blueberries, compared to just 20% who purchased organic exclusively and 24% who said they purchased both conventional and organic.

Once again, younger consumers showed more love for organic, with 32% of Gen Z and 24% of millennials reporting organic blueberry purchases in the past 12 months. This is compared to just 9% of baby boomers, 13% of traditionalists and 16% of Gen Xers.

And the blueberry category is benefiting from differentiation, as brands have introduced extra-large blueberries in recent years. Nearly half of consumers, or 45%, reported having purchased jumbo blueberries in the past 12 months.

A look at purchase of jumbo blueberries by generation, reveals that younger consumers were more apt to purchase the fruit. At 54%, millennials were far and away the leading purchasers of extra-large blueberries.

Reported purchase of jumbo blueberries in past 12 months by generation:

43% of Gen Z
54% of millennials
44% of Gen Xers
34% of baby boomers
38% of traditionalists

The jumbo blueberry purchasing habits of men versus women reveals another interesting trend. Throughout the Fresh Trends 2025 survey, men and women were closely aligned in their buying behavior, with relatively few exceptions. But when it comes to blueberries, 50% of men reported having purchased extra-large blueberries in the last 12 months compared with 40% of women.

The Packer has spoken with suppliers of extra-large blueberries who’ve said they see their product resonating with men, who perhaps view jumbo blueberries as a more substantial or satisfying snack. Cracking into the snacking trend with bigger blueberries could be a game changer for the subcategory.

At 38%, Gen Z shoppers lead in the purchase of organic raspberries.

(Africa Studio, Adobe Stock)

Raspberries Cross Generations

Thirty percent of consumers surveyed in Fresh Trends 2025 reported purchasing raspberries in the last 12 months. Generationally speaking, the consumers who most frequently reported purchasing raspberries in the past 12 months were baby boomers at 38%, Gen X at 32% and Gen Z at 30%.

When it comes to conventional versus organic raspberries, consumers purchased far more conventional raspberries than organic, with the majority, or 59%, of consumers saying they purchased conventional raspberries, compared with just 15% who said they only purchased organic raspberries.

On the organic front, the trend of the youngest berry shoppers gravitating to organics is apparent again with 38% of Gen Z indicating they had purchased organic raspberries in the last 12 months.

Twenty-three percent of all consumers surveyed said they bought organic strawberries in the last 12 months.

(knelson20, Adobe Stock)

Strawberries Top the Most-Purchased List

Strawberries not only made Fresh Trends 2025’s list of the top 10 most purchased fruits and vegetables — coming in at No. 8 with 54% of consumers saying they purchased strawberries in the last 12 months — but strawberries are also the No. 1 item in the berry category that consumers most frequently reported purchasing as organic. Twenty-three percent of all consumers surveyed said they bought organic strawberries in the last 12 months.

The big red berry also continues to gain new customers. Nine percent of consumers surveyed in Fresh Trends 2025 said they were new purchasers of strawberries, buying them for the first time in the past several years.

What drives consumers to buy?

When consumers were asked what factors make them likely to purchase fruits and vegetables they haven’t purchased before or more of a certain kind of produce, “on sale” was the most popular response at 41%, followed by word of mouth at 38%, sampling at 33% and social media at 27%.

And strawberries were another case where men and women indicated different purchasing habits, with 59% of women saying they had purchased strawberries in the past 12 months, compared with 49% of men.

U.S. Relies Heavily on Berry Imports From Mexico

The Packer’s presentation at Aneberries also took a look at the U.S.-Mexico berry trade, with input from international banking and financial services company Rabobank.

More than 90% of the raspberry supply in the U.S. is imported, with the vast majority coming from Mexico, says Rabobank.

With blueberries, over 60% of the supply is imported, with more heavy imports from Mexico during March, April and May when it’s the offseason for California.

Rabobank says almost all U.S. strawberry imports come from Mexico and about 25% of the fresh strawberries consumed in the U.S. are imported.

Mexico supplies a little over 62% of blackberries for the U.S. market. The vast majority of the U.S. blackberry supply is imported from Mexico from February through April.

Opportunities for Growth

The fresh produce industry now has five generations of produce shoppers, and one of the most compelling insights that came out of the Fresh Trends 2025 report with regard to berries specifically is that few other fresh produce categories have the penetration across all five generations that berries do.

From the youngest to the oldest and in between, consumers are engaging with berries. That’s great news for berry suppliers, retailers, foodservice and more, but the berry category also has the challenge of continuing to appeal to and delight that critically important younger shopper who craves something new and different, whether that’s organic berries, extra-large berries or innovations in value-added and snack offerings.

And younger shoppers, who despite being most sensitive to higher food prices, are also more willing to spend more for these items. They see items like organic berries as an affordable luxury, and they’re willing to pay the price to get what they want.

Download a free copy of the Fresh Trends 2025 report here .

Your next read: Fresh Trends 2025 — Driving Demand in an Age of Uncertainty

Nearly $1M in Cocaine Allegedly Found in Truck Hauling Frozen Raspberries

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:50:52 GMT

Officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations at the Laredo Port of Entry recently seized alleged cocaine totaling more than $996,000 in street value.

CBP says officers seized packages containing 74.6 pounds of suspected cocaine at the World Trade Bridge in a tractor-trailer hauling frozen raspberries. Officers found the narcotics during a secondary nonintrusive physical inspection, according to the agency.

The officers discovered the 32 packages within the trailer’s batteries, according to CBP, which adds that the suspected narcotics have an estimated street value of $996,114.

“The unwavering commitment and sharp instincts of our frontline CBP officers contributed to a remarkable seizure,” says Alberto Flores, port director for the Laredo Port of Entry. “This seizure speaks volumes about our CBP officers’ dedication to protecting our borders.”

Solid Crops and Shopper-Focused Strategies Help Berries Shine in the Retail Spotlight

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:58:59 GMT

Summer berries are in peak season, and growers across the U.S. say it’s shaping up to be a flavorful year.

From strawberries and blueberries to raspberries and blackberries, here is what’s in season, what’s trending and what retailers need to know to keep berry sales booming.

Consumer insights

Data from The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2025 report underscore just how vital berries remain to the produce department. From consumer buying habits and demographics to favored varieties and organic preferences, data from the annual consumer survey reveals where berries are performing well.

Strawberries

Strawberries were No. 8 among the top 10 fruits and vegetables that consumers reported purchasing, as 54% of shoppers indicated they bought strawberries during the past 12 months.

Strawberries are also the commodity that consumers most frequently reported purchasing as organic, with 23% saying they bought organic strawberries during the past year.

Baby boomers (69%) are who most frequently reported making a strawberry purchase, followed by Gen X (56%), millennials (50%), Gen Z (48%) and traditionalists (35%).

Blackberries

For blackberries, consumers with over $100,000 in annual household income (46%) most frequently said they bought blackberries in the past 12 months, with the lowest rate of reported purchases (21%) among those making less than $25,000 a year.

Consumers in the West most frequently reported purchasing blackberries (39%), followed by the Midwest (35%), Northeast (34%) and South (31%).

Of those who indicated blackberry purchases, 52% said they preferred to buy conventional blackberries, compared with 20% who only purchased organic blackberries and 25% who bought a combination of organic and conventional. Consumers who most often said they bought conventional blackberries were those without dependent children (60%), those aged 50 to 59 (71%) and those aged 60 or older (73%).

Blueberries

Blueberries continue to be a consumer favorite, according to Fresh Trends 2025 data, with 54% of respondents saying they bought blueberries in the past 12 months.

Higher-income consumers most frequently said they bought blueberries, with 64% of surveyed shoppers with more than $100,000 in annual household income indicating purchases.

Older consumers were the most frequent in reporting blueberry purchases, with 60% of those aged 50-59 and 59% of those aged 60 or older saying they added blueberries to their shopping carts in the past year.

Consumers in the West most often indicated they bought blueberries (60%), followed by the Midwest (56%), Northeast (53%) and South (49%).

Of those who purchased blueberries, most said they prefer to buy conventionally grown blueberries (52%), compared to 20% who purchased organic exclusively and 24% who purchased a mix of both conventional and organic. Consumers aged 50 or older that live in the Midwest were the most frequent to report buying conventionally grown blueberries.

Raspberries

Like the other berries, annual household income appeared to be a factor in reported raspberry purchase rates, with 35% of consumers earning $50,000 to $100,000 and 37% of earning over $100,000 saying they bought raspberries in the past 12 months. This compares with just 21% of those with annual household incomes of $25,000 to $50,000.

Generationally speaking, the consumers who most frequently reported purchasing raspberries in the past 12 months were Gen Z (30%), Gen X (32%) and baby boomers (38%).

The majority, or 59%, of consumers said they purchased conventional raspberries, compared with 15% who said they purchased only organic raspberries, while 23% indicated they purchased both conventional and organic.

Gen Z most frequently reported purchasing organics in this category, with 38% saying they bought organic raspberries in the past 12 months, more than double the percentage of millennials (14%) and Gen Xers (15%).

“As more people are prioritizing health span over lifespan, they’re turning to fresh, functional foods to support long-term wellness, and strawberries are leading the way,” said Amanda Armstrong, marketing director for Nature Fresh Farms.

(Photo courtesy of Nature Fresh Farms)

Nature Fresh Farms

Amanda Armstrong, marketing director for Nature Fresh Farms, said anticipation is building for what’s ahead as it finishes its current season.

“This upcoming season promises to be our most flavorful yet. Our focus remains unwavering — delivering Little Obsessions organic strawberries that are truly ‘so good you can’t resist,’” Armstrong said. “With our commitment to quality and innovation, we’re positioning for a season that will set new standards for year-round berry excellence.”

Armstrong said Nature Fresh Farms’ organic Little Obsessions berries offer summertime flavor and freshness no matter the season.

“Grown greenhouse-clean, they’re not only bursting with taste but also good for you and the planet,” Armstrong said. “It’s the berry experience you remember, with the consistency you can count on. As more people are prioritizing health span over lifespan, they’re turning to fresh, functional foods to support long-term wellness, and strawberries are leading the way. With our greenhouse-grown strawberries available year-round, health-focused shoppers can enjoy fresh, organic berries whenever they want.”

Armstrong said consumers should seek berries that promise an experience.

“Look for varieties that deliver that perfect balance of sweetness and juiciness that makes you close your eyes and savor the moment,” she said. “Our organic Little Obsessions are specifically chosen for their ability to create those ‘can’t resist’ moments — berries so fresh and flavorful they redefine expectations, start conversations and create connections.”

Northwest Berry Foundation

In Oregon, strawberries are just coming into season, explained Julie Pond, executive director for the Northwest Berry Foundation.

“Early and midseason June-bearing strawberry varieties are available now, and later season June-bearing varieties will be available in the next week or two. Day-neutral strawberries like Albion are available locally now and will continue to be available through September,” Pond said near the end of May. “The earliest blackberry varieties have just finished blooming, and right now the season is looking to be a week earlier than normal. Harvest should start around late June. Red raspberry is currently in bloom right now with a mid-June start. Blueberry just finished a great pollination season, and fruit is swelling for a late-June harvest start. Tack on 10 days, and that’s where Washington timing is, generally speaking, though eastern Washington blueberries should begin mid-June.

Overall, the season is looking good for all berries so far, Pond said.

“Growers are cautiously optimistic. Pollination weather was favorable, and it looks like an average crop in all berries,” Pond explained. “This past winter was moderate, which made a difference compared to the last couple of prior winters, which had some extended cold stretches. This year the plants didn’t need to adjust to winter concerns.”

From a fresh, local perspective, Pond said consumers like the up-and-coming varieties and varieties that are different from the usual run-of-the-mill ones.

“Don’t get me wrong, the tried-and-true varieties will always have traction in the region, but any unique colored berries or really any new varieties are fun to experience,” Pond said. “We’re fortunate to have a few longstanding berry breeding programs in the Pacific Northwest, which gives growers and consumers an opportunity to find the right varieties for our exact conditions and needs.”

Consumers should expect great quality berries coming out of the Pacific Northwest, Pond said, adding, “Take advantage of the season while it’s happening. Take the opportunity to try some new varieties while enjoying the tried-and-true ones we have.”

Blackberries are now in season in California, said Erin Mittelstaedt, CEO of The FruitGuys.

(Photo courtesy of The FruitGuys)

The FruitGuys

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are all in season right now in California, said Erin Mittelstaedt, CEO of The FruitGuys.

“California berry season typically starts with strawberries in February, followed by blueberries in April, blackberries in May and raspberries in June,” she said. “Florida’s strawberry season is already over; its strawberries are actually best during the winter months, typically peaking in February and March.”

Grapes and kiwifruit are technically berries, too, Mittelstaedt said, “even though we don’t usually think of them that way. California farmers are already harvesting the first grapes of the season. We should see kiwis in the fall, and we also always look forward to kiwi berries from the Pacific Northwest in September and October.”

Like all of the fruit seasons, berry season arrives at different times across the country, Mittelstaedt said.

“Florida and California farmers harvest their berries first, followed by farmers in the Midwest and on the East Coast,” she said. “Our farm partners in Pennsylvania, for example, usually harvest their strawberries in late May and June, raspberries in June and July, and blackberries from July to September. So, if you’re on the East Coast, expect to wait a little longer for some of those local fruits.”

Mittelstaedt said The FruitGuys is seeing more interest in unique and unusual fruits across the board, including berries. “Customers love it when we can sneak something different into our mixes, like kiwi berries (which look like miniature, fuzz-less kiwis) or pineberries (strawberry relatives with white skin and red seeds).

“Apart from that, this has been a fantastic year for California strawberries and blueberries,” she added. “They’re in great supply, and their flavor is delicious, so enjoy them this summer while they last.”

Consumers should look for berries that are brightly colored and firm, Mittelstaedt said.

“Size isn’t necessarily important (it varies from variety to variety), but smaller berries may have a more intense flavor,” she said. “Pass on berries that look squished, bruised or wet in the container — they could mold more quickly.

“For strawberries in particular, you can also look for bright green leaves. If the leaves are browning or dry, it means the berries may not be as fresh” she added. “At home or in the office, store your berries in the fridge and wait to wash them until right before you eat them. That will help them last longer.”

Wilmot Orchards’ varieties that produce larger berries are its most popular, said Courtney Stevens, chief operating officer and owner.

(Photo courtesy of Wilmot Orchards)

Wilmot Orchards

The Wilmot Orchards blueberry season typically starts in late July and runs to the middle or end of August, depending on the year, said Courtney Stevens, chief operating officer and owner.

Across the 11 different varieties of blueberries Wilmot has for picking, the varieties that produce larger berries are always the most popular, Stevens said.

“A few years ago, we planted two new varieties for us, Bonus and Valor,” she said. “They’re the largest of our varieties and will be producing even more this year as the bushes are maturing.

“We’re also expecting the ‘Made in Canada’ trend to continue into the summer,” she added. “We’re excited to offer our many products that are not only made in Canada and with our blueberries but made in Ontario through our partnership with fellow family-owned businesses, such as our blueberry jams, [barbecue] sauce and habanero jelly, all perfect to enjoy during the summer.”

Consumers should ensure they’re buying completely ripe berries, Stevens said.

“This means the berry is completely the color it should be. For blueberries, that means that each berry should be blue all over. If they’re not ripe, the berries may be white, green or pink at the bottom of the berry where the stem would have been. This will ensure the best flavor and most nutrients,” she said. “Buying in season will also ensure the best flavor, as the berries are not being picked while under-ripe to make sure they’re still firm when they finally arrive at the grocery store. The best berries always come directly from the farm, again because they are picked at the peak of their ripeness, so they’ll have the best flavor.”

California Giant Berry Farms

California Giant Berry Farms is currently harvesting high-quality strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, with year-round availability thanks to its global growing regions, said Tim Youmans, vice president of sales.

“Strawberries are currently coming from Watsonville/Salinas and Santa Maria, Calif., blueberries from California’s Central Valley, and blackberries and raspberries primarily from Mexico, with light supplies from Watsonville, Calif.,” he said.

Consumer trends continue to emphasize health and wellness, driving demand for nutrient-rich berries in various culinary applications, from innovative savory dishes to refreshing beverages, Youmans said.

“We’re seeing increased interest in versatile usage and convenient snacking options, which our premium berries perfectly complement,” he said. “Our focus remains on continuous improvement in flavor and shelf life, ensuring we consistently provide the best berry experience for our consumers and partners.”

When picking out berries this season, Youmans said consumers should look for bright, uniform color and firmness across all varieties.

“For strawberries, choose those that are bright red with a natural sheen and fresh, green leaves (the calyx), as they don’t ripen after harvest. Blueberries should be a bright blue with a natural powdery ‘bloom’ and feel firm,” he said. “Raspberries should be bright and consistent in color, while blackberries should be an inky, deep purple. Always check the entire container to ensure it’s free from crushed, moldy or bruised berries and any excess moisture.”

North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association

The summer of 2025 is looking like a great year for berries across the country, said Darcy Kochis, executive director for the North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association.

“Of course, depending on the region where you’re in, you can get strawberries and raspberries as early as now, and when you move into the colder regions, you know it’s usually around June when you’re starting to see your first raspberries. When you’re looking at the southeast, you’re getting blackberries around that time, or even early June,” Kochis said. “We’ve got some really wonderful varieties of blackberries and raspberries that are being grown all throughout the country, specific to their region. We have great breeding programs out of North Carolina, Arkansas and Oregon that naturally plant breed new varieties that are delicious for people to eat and also for growers to grow. So, we’re excited about the variety of blackberries and raspberries that we have coming out of the different areas.”

While fresh berries can be found year-round, Kochis said, consumers can check packaging for “grown in the U.S.” during the summer to support U.S. farmers and U.S.-grown berries that are mainly available in the summertime.

Berries are an important part of the produce aisle, Kochis said.

“If you walk into a grocery store, you always see berries first, first thing in the fruits and vegetables section. They’re always front and center, and that’s because consumers love them,” Kochis said. “They do really well at retailers, and we want to make sure that we’re all supporting each other by producing good quality fruit that can go through those markets quickly and into consumers’ bellies.”

Naturipe Farms said its raspberries are headed into a peak in June, with crops boasting both strong quality as well as promotable volumes.

(Photo courtesy of Naturipe Farms)

Naturipe Farms

Naturipe Farms kicked off its domestic season with promotable volumes of Southern-grown berries, the company said in a news release.

Blackberries from the southeast are led by Georgia-grown fruit and feature its sought-after proprietary variety, Southern Grace. With Mexico’s crop winding down and domestic production ramping up, this year’s blackberry season is off to a strong start, according to the company.

“Our Southern Grace variety delivers exceptional flavor and consistently high quality, and we’re excited to bring this delightful berry to our retail partners at just the right time,” said Fernando Aguiar, director of business development for Naturipe Farms. “It’s a unique opportunity to promote a regionally grown blackberry that really stands out on the shelf — and in the clamshell.”

Naturipe Farms’ domestic blackberry peak was expected to begin in late May and run through most of June, with promotable volumes available in both 6-ounce and 12-ounce clamshells. This is an ideal time for retailers to capitalize on consumer demand for local and regionally sourced foods, highlighting the Georgia origins of Naturipe blackberries and driving purchases during a key window for berry sales, the company said.

Naturipe raspberries are also headed into a peak in June, with crops boasting both strong quality as well as promotable volumes. All Naturipe’s raspberries are 100% proprietary varieties and are specially bred for flavor and appearance, the company said. Naturipe’s raspberries are available in the same 6-ounce and 12-ounce pack sizes.

“June is a great time to run a dual blackberry and raspberry promotion,” Aguiar said. “It’s a one-two punch of flavor, quality and value.”

Optimism abounds for bush berries despite slower start

Fri, 09 May 2025 16:08:36 GMT

Domestic raspberry and blackberry movement is ramping up, and with shipments already underway from Mexico, growers say they anticipate an overall good season this year despite a slower start than a year ago.

In the blackberry fresh market category, USDA reports that, as of April 19, movement was at about 6.3 million pounds from California, Georgia and North Carolina, down from about 9.5 million pounds at the same time in 2024. Total 2024 fresh market volume was 62.3 million pounds.

Fresh market volume of raspberries as of April 19 was 720,000 pounds from California, down from 1.9 million pounds in 2024. Total fresh market volume for 2024 was 63.5 million pounds of conventional and 27.7 million pounds of organic.

Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce sources blackberries from Mexico year-round, while Georgia will start in May, followed by North Carolina in June, said Aaron Hunter, sales representative. Raspberries are sourced from Mexico from October to June and from California from June to October.

“Erandy Reserve blackberries are our staple blackberry known for its high Brix, extended shelf life and wow effect,” Hunter said.

“All our bush berries have shown to be excellent in quality, sizing and flavor,” he added.

Blackberries from North Bay Produce are sold in 6-, 10- and 12-ounce packages, and raspberries come in 6- and 12-ounce containers. All are available in organic as well as conventional versions.

Peak season for raspberries from Watsonville, Calif.-based California Giant Berry Farms is August to November, says Tim Youmans, vice president of sales.

(Photo courtesy of California Giant)

Peak season for raspberries from Watsonville, Calif.-based California Giant Berry Farms is August to November, said Tim Youmans, vice president of sales. Peak production for blackberries is June through October. Both are sourced primarily from Watsonville and Mexico.

“California Giant will have availability of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in anticipation of Mother’s Day,” he said.

And a couple of months later, the Fourth of July will be an ideal time for retailers to ensure a large and full berry patch display, Youmans said.

Mark Bolda, farm adviser for strawberries and caneberries for University of California Cooperative Extension, Santa Cruz County, Watsonville, said the outlook for blackberries and raspberries is excellent.

“We’ve had some good cold [weather] this past winter with a bit of moisture,” he said. “I think we’re looking at a great crop.”

Agragene and Associates Insectary partner on gene editing approach to SWD control

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 14:22:35 GMT

Agragene and Associates Insectary have announced a partnership to advance Agragene’s Knockout SWD technology targeting spotted wing drosophila (SWD), a top pest of fresh berries. Agragene’s technology, still in development, uses gene editing to create sterile male SWD. Associates Insectary, which specializes in high-volume insect production, will rear the sterile males at their Santa Paula, Calif., facility.

Matt Helms, Agragene’s chief commercial officer, says the company reached out to Associates Insectary for a partnership for several reasons, including its respected reputation and extensive expertise. But a shared entrepreneurial spirit is at the heart of the partnership, he said.

“They are looking ahead from a vision perspective and trying to invest their time and partnerships into new technologies that can be game changing. That attracted us to each other,” Helms told The Packer.

A new twist on an old strategy

Both companies see strong potential for future pest control in Knockout SWD. The technology applies the tried-and-true sterile insect technique (SIT) to SWD, but with a twist: gene editing.

“Knockout is basically a gene edited process,” explained Bryan Witherbee, Agragene CEO. “We’re targeting two genes in particular; one that is responsible for female development and one that is responsible for spermatogenesis, or development of sperm.”

The result of this approach is an efficient process to produce only sterile male SWD eggs, Witherbee said. This contrasts with the traditional SIT process. That involves rearing the target pest to adulthood, sorting males from females, then irradiating the males.

While this process has been used effectively for decades, Witherbee called it time-consuming, labor-intensive and expensive. Irradiating the adult males comes with potential issues as well, starting with the impact of irradiation on the insects.

“It’s the same as for humans; it’s hard on you physically,” explained Chris Adams, assistant professor of tree fruit entomology at Oregon State University. Adams led a USDA-permitted experimental release of Knockout SWD in partnership with Agragene last summer.

“[Irradiation] kills and breaks down lots of cells, so there is a fitness cost,” Adams said.

Some of that fitness cost is dead, instead of just sterile, males. But it can also mean the sterile males that survive the irradiation process might not be able to compete against wild males to mate, Adams said.

The materials needed for the irradiation process also come with their own drawbacks. Adams explained most SIT programs use radioactive cobalt, a regulated substance.

“We know this is a very needed product. This is something that growers are anticipating.”

Bryan Witherbee, Agragene CEO

Witherbee sees a lot of advantages to Knockout SWD’s gene editing spin on SIT.

“Once we get the egg made, in terms of the sterile male, we don’t touch them,” he said, so the process sidesteps the drawbacks of irradiation-based SIT. He explained eggs will be packaged together with a food source in a convenient box. This can be placed in orchards or berry farms. The sterile males will develop inside the box until they reach adulthood and fly out to do their work.

Better together to battle SWD

Helms explained that in the planned partnership with Associates Insectary, Agragene will provide the breeding lines, one edited for non-viability in females and one edited for sterility in males, to Associates Insectary, who will then rear, pack and distribute them, something it is well equipped to do.

“Associates Insectary has the processes, controls and expertise to consistently rear our Knockout insect technology solution and is also strategically located in a key market geography,” Helms said in the companies’ joint news release.

Zach Slaughter of Associates Insectary also highlighted his company’s important location in Ventura County, near so many berry farms in California. With so many growers so close, he told The Packer the company has been able to hand-deliver beneficial insects to its customers. Slaughter said Associates Insectary long ago realized the industry needs transparent, reliable suppliers of beneficials.

“So, we quickly knew that we were going to focus on being a reliable producer that is not out to compete against our peer insectaries, but instead collaborate and support. In six months, we have partnered in some fashion with four other beneficial insectaries and providers to contract rear, assisting in stabilizing supply in key beneficials they identified needing production support in,” Slaughter said.

The invasive spotted wing drosophila is studied in the entomology lab at Oregon State University’s Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Hood River. The fly is a major new fruit pest.

(Oregon State University Extension photo by Lynn Ketchum. Used under the CC BY-SA 2.0/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.)

He added that at Associates Insectary, “We truly believe ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,’” a mindset he said Agragene also embodies.

He called the partnership with Agragene on Knockout SWD something of a passion project for Associates Insectary given the compatibility of the two companies’ goals.

“Our mission is to advance the use of beneficials and other biocontrols over the use of harmful chemicals,” Slaughter said. “Outside of the obvious that [Agragene is] producing a beneficial insect and we are a commercial insectary, their focus in providing an accessible and scalable solution for growers as a way to execute their mission compliments ours.”

“The partnership with Associates Insectary enables us to scale our groundbreaking technology and bring it to growers who are desperately seeking insect control solutions,” Helms said in the release.

Tiny flies mean huge problems for berry growers

According to Adams, berry growers are indeed in need of solutions to the SWD problem because it is a massive one. A 2021 report in Entomology Today estimated the damage caused to U.S. fruit growers by SWD at $500 million annually.

“I think they are the biggest threat to soft fruit and berries,” Adams said.

He explained the basics of the SWD. They are relatively new invasive pests. Unlike native or more established berry pests, SWD can attack undamaged or unripe fruit. Worse, they reproduce stunningly fast.

Under the proper conditions, such as the warm months of summer, a SWD can go from egg to adult in seven to 10 days. Females can lay up to 600 eggs during their lifetime. Adults usually live for two to nine weeks but can overwinter under the right conditions.

“They’re survivors, and they do a really good job of making more flies,” Adams said.

The prolific nature of SWD means growers must be rigorous about pesticide application. “If you skip a week and you don’t spray, you end up with infested fruit,” Adams said.

SWD feed on any soft-skinned fruit such as blackberries, raspberries, cherries, strawberries and more. Females pierce the skin of even unripe fruit to lay their eggs.

(Oregon State University Extension photo by Amy Dreves. Used under the CC BY-SA 2.0/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.)

This causes problems for organic and smaller growers, especially the small “mom and pop” U-pick farms, he said. But it also poses issues for conventional growers on labor, Helms added.

“This is all hand harvested, so the reentry or preharvest intervals — it varies a little bit on these products — really impacts the timing that the farmer can have his harvest crews rotate around to the different fields and maximize the yield opportunity.”

Adams also pointed out the damage SWD do to fruit, and their larva, look like that of the Western cherry fruit fly, a quarantine pest. This causes problems at the packing level.

Hatching spotted wing drosophila larvae feed on fruit before breaching the skin to escape.

(Oregon State University Extension photo by Amy Dreves. Used under the CC BY-SA 2.0/Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.)

“If it ends up in the packing house on the line, and they catch maggots inside of fruit, they have to stop the production line and ID what you have,” Adams said. “And because Western chair fruit fly restricts export of the fruit, you have to reject the whole load. You can’t take the chance.

“So growers hands are kind of tied right now to a very expensive and frequent pesticide application,” he continued. “So that’s why we’re really excited about this new sterile insect release technique from Agragene. It’s another tool; we don’t currently have a sterile insect release technique for spotted wing drosophila.”

A path forward for future pest projects

Helms described growers as throwing the kitchen sink at the SWD problem right now. Witherbee added growers are hungry for tools. They, like Adams, hope their Knockout SWD could be another tool in berry growers’ arsenal.

Though the technology is still in the research phase, Agragene envisions a 12-week program beginning when berries start flowering. This is roughly three or four weeks before wild SWD begin emerging, according to Helms. Growers would receive shipments of the boxed Knockout SWD every two weeks during the program. The boxes would be hung in trees, or on trellises or vines to get the gene-edited flies out into the fields ahead of the wild type.

“Our goal is that this is a foundational program. Kind of like with the COVID curve, instead of letting [SWD numbers] spike, we want to keep it down and push it out,” Adams said. “We believe we can have an opportunity to increase yields, increase quality and likely reduce the need for reliance on insecticides.”

“This is a much more environmentally friendly way to control insects and I just think it’s going to be — once they figure out how to get this to scale — a really exciting technique. And I think it’s going to be a great new tool for growers everywhere.”

Chris Adams, assistant professor of tree fruit entomology at Oregon State University

Witherbee said they project Knockout SWD will be available to growers sometime in 2027. The next step to getting there, however, is an experimental use permit from EPA. He said they expect to submit the experimental use permit (EUP) package within the month. The company is already looking for growers interested in participating in anticipation of the permit.

“Once we do get the approval from the EPA to do the experimental use permit, that opens up the amount of acreage that we can do. We are already kind of reaching out to some early adopters in terms of growers that are interested in trying this out with us.”

While Witherbee and Helms were excited about the potential for specifically the Knockout SWD technology, they both were also very hopeful about what it could mean for the future of the beneficials industry.

“Hopefully, as we work our way through, this truly becomes a template for the next generation,” Helms said.

Though SIT is a decades-old strategy, thus far genetic editing for sterility has only been used on mosquitoes. Using gene editing to produce SIT for agricultural pests is new regulatory terrain. Helms said he was excited to “start paving the regulatory path forward in the U.S. and new countries” with what Agragene is doing.

He added that the company is already thinking about next potential targets for the technology, including olive fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and naval orange worm.

“At least two of those will be moving forward in parallel, but that is going to be a little bit of an evolution for the company,” he said.

Witherbee noted partnerships with insectaries like Associates Insectary will be key to those efforts.

“Hopefully the relationship and the learnings they got from this first one will carry over to the next and second and third insect, as we move these through,” Witherbee said.

Kroger adds new produce brand

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 17:00:17 GMT

The Kroger Co. says it launched a new fresh produce line, Field & Vine, to highlight produce grown by U.S. farmers in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington.

“Field & Vine features berries grown in the fields of American farmers that are picked, packed and delivered in stores during peak seasonality,” Dan De La Rosa, Kroger’s group vice president of fresh merchandising, said in a news release. “Harvesting at just the right time during the U.S. growing season allows us to provide our customers with an enhanced fresh experience, offering the highest-quality, best-tasting berries possible. We are thrilled to launch Field & Vine in collaboration with local farmers who enable Kroger to feed families across America every day.”

Kroger currently offers strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries under the Field & Vine brand.

“Working with Kroger has been great for getting our Georgia blackberries to customers when they are at the very best of the season,” Matthew Giddings chief operating officer of Always Fresh Family Farms, said in the release. “By identifying where our berries are grown — right here in the U.S.A — customers can feel good about supporting their local growers and they are getting fresh and in season fruits, harvested at a time when fully ripe and ready to eat.”

Kroger said the produce sold under the Field & Vine brand is a limited-time, best-of-season product with optimal freshness.

“Adding Field & Vine to the Our Brands portfolio brings together Kroger’s expertise in fresh with our commitment to deliver customers the products they want, backed by our fresh guarantee,” Juan De Paoli, Kroger’s vice president of Our Brands, said in the release.

Late-summer berries remain plentiful

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:33:42 GMT

Summer’s nearly half over, but there still are plenty of late-summer berries to be found — from coast to coast.

Strawberries are going strong in California, and blueberries now are available from California, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington. Blackberries and raspberries are available from the East Coast, California, Washington and Oregon.

“Strawberry sales definitely remain strong in the late summer, as we have demand for strawberries on a year-round basis from our key customers,” said Cindy Jewell, who handles marketing for Oxnard, Calif.-based Bobalu Berries.

“Consumers expect to see strawberries in their local store all year long, and we do our best to keep them on the shelf,” she said.

The company was still harvesting its spring crop in Santa Maria, Calif., in mid-July, and its late-summer volume was expected to kick in during August when the fall strawberry crop begins.

Oxnard will follow with a fall strawberry crop that will extend into 2025.

California has endured some high temperatures this summer, but Bobalu’s coastal location is an advantage, Jewell said.

“Thankfully, our fields in Santa Maria hug the coastal region there, and the ocean breezes keep our fields at a pretty good temperature,” she said.

Strawberry quality is “excellent,” she added. “The fruit is flavorful, full red in color and delicious.”

Oxnard, Calif.-based Bobalu Berries was harvesting its spring crop in Santa Maria in mid-July, says Cindy Jewell, who handles marketing for the company. “Strawberry sales definitely remain strong in the late summer,” she says. “Consumers expect to see strawberries in their local store all year long.”

(Photo courtesy of Bobalu Berries)

Watsonville, Calif.-based California Giant Berry Farms said in its July 15 crop report that quality of strawberries from the Watsonville/Salinas area was “great” with “nice sheen and excellent flavor.”

The company’s Santa Maria season is winding down, and berry size is smaller because of high heat.

As of the week ending July 6, California growers had shipped 131,827,552 trays of strawberries. That’s up from 109,085,918 trays at the same time a year ago and up from about 128 million trays in 2022, according to the Watsonville-based California Strawberry Commission.

“California strawberry quality, size and taste have been excellent all season long, and this should continue throughout the year, despite low market prices that have made this a challenging year,” said Jeff Cardinale, the commission’s director of communications.

During the summer, Irvine, Calif.-based Gem-Pack Berries sources strawberries from the Watsonville/Salinas and Santa Maria regions; raspberries from Watsonville and the Mexican state of Baja California; blackberries from Oxnard, Calif., Watsonville and Tennessee; and some blueberries from the Pacific Northwest, said Trent Etchandy, vice president of sales.

Gem-Pack will have organic strawberries from Watsonville as late as October and sources organic and conventional raspberries from Baja California nearly year-round.

“Berry sales should remain steady as we get through July and into August,” Etchandy said. Volume then will start to decrease.

“Berries are super sweet right now,” he said in mid-July. “Size on the conventional is steady, but the organic size has gone down.”

It’s been a tough year on pricing for strawberries.

“Hopefully, that will turn around as we get into the middle of July,” Etchandy said.

The company has introduced a new website — gem-packberries.com — with a fresh consumer focus, said Michelle Deleissegues, vice president of marketing.

“More features will be introduced as the year progresses,” she said.

Consalo Family Farms, Vineland, N.J., expects to transition its blueberry program from New Jersey to grower partners in Michigan in late July, says Chelsea Consalo, executive vice president. “Blueberries really are a summer staple,” she says. “Demand has been high and pricing is favorable right now.”

(Photo courtesy of Consalo Family farms)

On the blueberry side, Consalo Family Farms, Vineland, N.J., expects to transition from New Jersey to grower partners in Michigan around the fourth week of July, said Chelsea Consalo, executive vice president.

“Blueberries really are a summer staple,” she said. “Demand has been high, and pricing is favorable right now.”

New Jersey blueberry growers have had to deal with some hot weather this summer.

“Battling the weather is something we deal with not only in season, but out of season,” Consalo said. “Cold temperatures in the winter can affect our crop as well.”

Consalo Family Farms also has a growing organic blueberry program and continues to expand blueberry varietals.

“Flavor is something consumers are demanding,” Consalo said. “Consumers are becoming more discerning about their food choices, seeking out products that are not only healthy but also delicious.”

Cal Giant said blueberry quality out of the Pacific Northwest is “good” on conventional and organic product. Blueberry quality out of Mexico also is good, “with some scarred and shriveled fruit due to hot weather.”

Raspberry quality out of Watsonville is “great with nice size and color.” Volumes should be steady for the next two weeks. Quality is “good” out of Mexico, but raspberries have passed their peak there and volume is declining.

Quality of blackberries from Watsonville is “good, with nice color and size.” Volumes are steady and expected to increase in two to four weeks. Blackberry quality out of Mexico is “great with nice size and color.” Volume from Mexico should be steady for the next two weeks.

A look at packaging

Packaging plays an important role in preserving the integrity of delicate berries during precooling and distribution, said Madu Etchandy, vice president of operations for Gem-Pack.

Packaging also extends shelf life and protects against environmental conditions, he said.

Gem-Pack offers strawberries in clamshells ranging from 8.8 ounces to 4-pound long-stem packs; blackberries and raspberries in 6-ounce and 12-ounce sizes; and blueberries in pints, 6-ounce and 18-ounce clamshells.

“We are seeing consumers opt for smaller packaging due to price point and opting to purchase fresh produce more frequently,” he said.

Clamshell containers allow consumers to clearly see the quantity and quality of the berries, and they give merchandisers more display flexibility and creativity while maintaining berry quality and integrity, Madu Etchandy said.

Gem-Pack also uses its packaging to communicate its recyclability and traceability program, he added. Almost all of the firm’s packaging is recyclable.

How the season is shaping up for bush berries

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 19:39:03 GMT

Strawberries aren’t the only berries that shine during the summer. Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries also are berry standouts.

The summer blueberry season is shaping up to be exceptional, said Kristy Babb, director of communications for the Folsom, Calif.-based North American Blueberry Council. U.S. blueberry production is expected to reach 700 million pounds this year, up from 637.2 million pounds in 2023, she said.

“Following a record crop in 2023, Georgia is on track to have an even bigger crop — 115 million pounds — in 2024,” she said.

North Carolina’s volume is down slightly from last season, but quality is great, she said.

“New Jersey and Michigan are set for a strong season with excellent pollination and fruit set,” Babb said. And growers in the Pacific Northwest anticipate a larger crop than last year.

Fresh volume out of California could be down, however, if anticipated heat waves materialize during the second half of the Golden State’s blueberry season.

Overall, quality of U.S. blueberries is expected to be good this summer.

“While weather is always an unpredictable factor, the southern regions have experienced excellent growing conditions with favorable temperatures and minimal adverse events,” Babb said.

Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms will have blueberries from New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon and Washington “that are exceptional in quality and flavor” to support Fourth of July promotions, said Brian Bocock, vice president of product management.

“This is a great time for retailers to promote these delicious and good-for-you berries,” he said. July Fourth blueberry supplies were tight the past couple of years, but that won’t be the case for Naturipe this summer.

“This year, we will have volume to support large ads and big displays,” Bocock said.

Blueberries

(Photo courtesy of Naturipe Farms)

Naturipe blackberries also will be plentiful for Independence Day.

“Our summer blackberries are absolutely bursting with flavor,” he said. “They’re sweeter and juicier than ever, making them perfect for snacking, baking or adding a pop of freshness to your salads and desserts this summer.”

Now is the time retailers should stock up on all Naturipe’s berries, he said.

“Help your shoppers deck out all of their summer meal occasions in red, white and blue with the vibrant hues of our strawberries, blueberries and raspberries,” Bocock said.

Retailers can drive incremental sales by sampling dishes made with berries, he added.

Naturipe also sources blackberries from Georgia, North Carolina and California and offers raspberries from central Mexico and the country’s Baja California region.

Vineland, N.J.-based Consalo Family Farms recently expanded a packinghouse at its Egg Harbor City, N.J., blueberry farm, said Chelsea Consalo, executive vice president.

“The expansion project involved construction efforts that seamlessly integrated cold storage units, sorting equipment and other machinery,” she said. “The result is a streamlined facility with greatly increased throughput capacity.

The company offers New Jersey blueberries starting in early June but offer berries year-round.

“The state is known for its Jersey Fresh program, and we’re proud to be a part of that,” Consalo said. “We are continuing to make taste one of the biggest priorities here as we invest in new varieties and take out old ones.”

Cold, rainy New Jersey weather has affected the blueberry crop, she said, “nonetheless, the quality is still looking great.”

Irvine, Calif.-based Gem-Pack Berries sources raspberries out of Baja California, California’s Watsonville/Salinas growing region and Oxnard, Calif., said Michelle Deleissegues, vice president of marketing. The company also brings in some blackberries from central Mexico. Volume should be similar to last year, and quality should be good.

“Watsonville raspberries have been awesome as far as quality and flavor,” said Paul Kawamura, the company’s chief sales officer.

Gem-Pack also offers organic raspberries.

The blueberry category in the U.S. has enjoyed continued growth in recent years, Babb said.

Retail sales increased by 11.1% from 2021 to 2023, “reflecting consumers’ growing enthusiasm and love for the snackable, crave-worthy flavor of blueberries and their many health benefits,” she said.

Approximately 8% to 10% of blueberries are shipped as organic from conventional markets.

Because of favorable weather, it looks as though Naturipe’s volumes of blueberries and blackberries will be up compared to last year, Bocock said.

“This is really exciting in terms of both quantity and quality,” he said.

Naturipe will have significant volume of new acres of its new proprietary blueberries in all of its blueberry-growing regions, Bocock said, “which will make it our best year ever for quality, flavor, size and texture.”

Don't overlook the consumer appeal of raspberries, blackberries

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 19:38:10 GMT

Blackberries and raspberries may not top consumers’ shopping lists, but they are commodities that a good number of shoppers pick up at least occasionally.

The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 survey says 1 in 4 consumers purchased blackberries in the past year, and 24% of consumers purchased raspberries.

Average retail price for blackberries in 2022 was $3.37 per unit, up 4% from 2022. Average retail price for raspberries was $1.72, up 5% from the previous year.

Irvine, Calif.-based Gem-Pack Berries LLC , which recently partnered with Watsonville, Calif.-based Well-Pict Berries , ships raspberries out of Baja California year-round, with a new crop starting in central Mexico in October, said Michelle Deleissegues, vice president of marketing.

“Baja weather has been fairly typical, and the raspberry crop is beautiful,” she said.

The company expects to start shipping blackberries and blueberries from central Mexico in September.

Proprietary raspberry varieties have been popular with customers of Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms LLC and have had strong demand, said Fernando Aguiar, director of business development.

“This year we’ll be able to offer our customers even greater volumes and bigger promotional opportunities,” he said.

Mexico was in its seasonal rainy period in July, which brought some challenges to the current season, Aguiar said. But he expected favorable weather conditions in the fall to produce “an exceptional new crop.”

“We’re expecting great quality, flavor and size on our raspberries,” he said. “We grow outstanding berries in all regions, but our Baja raspberries grow in ideal conditions that allow them to have great size, flavor and overall great quality.”

Naturipe’s proprietary raspberry varieties will come first from Baja California and then central Mexico.

“We’ll have a nice overlap of production from both areas while our volumes build toward their first peak in the early fall,” Aguiar said.

The company produces raspberries year-round.

In the blackberry category, Naturipe’s Southern Grace variety out of Georgia “is an excellent piece of fruit that is delighting consumers,” he said.

Organic berry sales remain strong

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:52:28 GMT

Berries remain popular items in the organic category.

According to The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2023 consumer survey, 16% of consumers said they purchased organic blackberries exclusively, 15% purchased organic strawberries exclusively, and 14% purchased organic blueberries exclusively.

Also, 35% said they purchased organic strawberries periodically, and 36% said they purchased organic blueberries at least periodically.

Irvine, Calif.-based Gem-Pack LLC , which recently partnered with Watsonville, Calif.-based Well-Pict Berries , grows organic strawberries and raspberries, said Michelle Deleissegues, vice president of marketing.

“Organic sales continue to increase as demand at store level has increased for all organic berry types,” she said.

Organic strawberries account for 15% to 20% of the acreage at Visalia, Calif.-based Seven Seas, part of St. Louis-based Tom Lange Co. Inc. , said Brent Scattini, vice president, West Coast.

The company has decreased its organic plantings a bit over the past three years.

“Our sales are about the same, but the margins are smaller,” he said.

That’s because input costs have gone up, but sales prices have not followed suit.

Nonetheless, the company’s customer base needs organic strawberries, Scattini said, “and they will always be a part of our program.”

Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms LLC grows organic strawberries, blueberries and raspberries year-round from multiple regions in North American and South America, said Brian Vertrees, director of business development.

“Naturipe Farms and our growers were one of the pioneers of the organic berry industry and, as such, we index very high in overall market share,” he said.

The company has nearly doubled its organic offerings over the past five years.

Vertrees said he expected sales to continue to grow at a faster rate than the overall industry because of new acreage and new varieties with better eating characteristics.

Prices for organic berries may drop a bit as production increases, but Vertrees said there always will be a price differential between organic and conventional product.

“Yields are still significantly lower when growing organically, which in turn drives higher cost,” he said.

Despite rising prices because of inflation and higher growing costs for organic produce, sales of organic berries have not declined, Deleissegues said.

“The organic consumer has different priorities and, as far as we can tell, is less price-conscious,” she said.

Some consumers may switch to conventional berries to save money as inflation drives up prices, Vertrees said.

“However, the number of consumers committed to buying only organic continues to increase as millennials and Gen Z purchase organics at a higher rate than previous generations,” he said.

Agrovision sets sights on sustainability, empowering communities

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 22:10:40 GMT

Agrovision, a Los Angeles-based producer and year-round supplier of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries, is on a journey — one that co-founder, CEO and Executive Chairman Steve Magami says seamlessly intertwines sustainable agribusiness with ecological preservation, societal empowerment and global health improvement.

Earlier this month, The Packer interviewed the Agrovision exec via email about the vertically integrated company’s recent 10-year anniversary; its growing operations and commercial partnerships in Peru, the U.S., Mexico, Morocco, China, India and Romania; goals for the year ahead; and a business model it says is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

The Packer: Congratulations on Agrovision’s 10-year anniversary. What’s on the horizon in the year ahead? Is there a particular goal you hope to achieve?

Magami: Agrovision has come a long way since establishing our first blueberry plantings in Peru. In just a decade, our company has undergone sustained growth and success and today, we are a leading global producer and supplier of premium superfruits specializing in berries.

As we look forward to the next decade, we see a wave of opportunity for retailers as consumers increasingly embrace a long-term approach to wellness and seek out foods and snacks that not only taste good, but also offer positive health benefits.

Consumers are becoming more aware of the many positive health benefits of superfruits such as blueberries, which offer valuable antioxidants, fiber and vitamins. We know too that consumers are willing to spend more on premium healthy snack options and that convenience, portability and value are attractive offerings for today’s on-the-go lifestyle.

Our major goal for 2024 is to educate consumers that a better berry exists and that it can be reliably found year-round. [We also want] to get retailers on-board with this growing demand, which we see as a sizeable untapped opportunity.

The Packer spoke with Agrovision Chief Commercial Officer Steve McVickers at the recent Fruit Logistica in Berlin, where he shared some of Agrovision’s sustainable farming initiatives in Peru, including redirecting the Amazon to transform barren desert into a farming oasis. What are some of Agrovision’s achievements related to sustainable farming and building sustainable communities of which you are most proud?

From Day 1, Agrovision has remained fully committed to developing a modern agribusiness, coupled with a commitment to lift up the communities in which we operate — Peru, Mexico and Morocco — by bringing economic stability and advocating for social responsibility, including care for the environment and women’s rights, along the way.

How is Agrovision seeking to reduce the social inequities within the communities it farms?

Many of our Peruvian workforce — up to 15,000 field workers during peak harvest — come from remote impoverished areas throughout the country. Agrovision provides these workers ample opportunities for stable employment — not only working in the fields and running machinery, but also in the service sector, [including] transportation, retail, medical services, technical, IT, engineering and more.

Agriculture in South America is creating an economy that would not otherwise exist. Our team in Peru earns an attractive monthly wage that is improving the quality of lives and building communities.

Further, more than half of the Peruvian workforce are women. Employment provides financial independence, promotes social stability and builds self-esteem. For many of the women, it is the first time they have opened a bank account — a huge source of pride for many.

Agrovision [also] sponsors football leagues; provides school supplies, medical equipment and water to communities; helps families with abused, battered women and much more.

How do Agrovision’s sustainability efforts align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals?

The company is proud to be aligned with 11 of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and to have earned the most prestigious certifications. It’s a testament to how a company’s growth can be intertwined with creating a better world for future generations.

Agrovision has a robust genetics program. Beyond climate change, what are the key drivers of the program and how does it relate to improved fruit quality and a sustainable food supply?

Genetics are foundational and we continually seek out the newest berry varietals that set new standards for quality across flavor, size, texture and freshness.

We are proud to work with some of the world’s finest breeding programs, merging precision farming technologies and craftsmanship to yield a better berry with higher quality, superior taste, crunch and size, for a premium eating experience.

Our newest European offering — the Pink Star raspberry — is the result of more than 100 years of breeding experience. It’s receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from our retail customers.

Grown in Morocco on our own farms, the Pink Star raspberry offers flexibility in production, consistent supply, superior size and an exceptional taste, paired with long shelf life.

Better genetics also means better for the environment. We invest in sustainable agriculture in the farming communities in which we operate. We operate with transparency, honesty and fairness, and shared passion and purpose across our teams.

How important is local when you’re a global company?

Locally grown is a key component of a sustainable food supply. We’ve just announced our plans to introduce large-scale farming operations in the Yunnan province of China. The new operations, which will total 2,000 hectares, serves to advance our company’s promise of premium, locally grown, superfruits to health-conscious Chinese consumers.

The Packer had the opportunity to sample the jumbo Sekoya blueberries at Fruit Logistica. What does Agrovision’s “better berry” program mean to you and how does this philosophy influence the company’s product development and overall berry business?

We are focused on cultivating superfruits of the highest quality and setting new standards for flavor, size, texture and freshness — a better berry. And in order to deliver on this promise, we leverage advanced agricultural technology and identify specific global microclimates and unique terroirs that align well with new genetics. We aim to deliver to consumers a consistently enhanced experience, superior in quality, taste, size and shelf life. And for retailers, we offer a higher level of both quality and product supply certainty.

I understand that Agrovision is also growing in Oregon. How do your U.S. operations complement your farming in Mexico, Morocco and Peru?

Agrovision’s global farming operations in the U.S., Peru, Mexico and Morocco strategically establish immediate access to major consumer markets worldwide.

Its global farming footprint, with complementary harvest seasons, support year-round supply while advanced agricultural technology brings to market new premium berry varietals that offer a reliably higher quality.

Oregon will be a key component in the 52-weeks a year calendar of better berries and will offer North American consumers new varietals, year-round.

Naturipe Farms rolling into big berry availability

Thu, 09 May 2024 17:23:22 GMT

Naturipe Farms will offer conventional and organic options of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries this spring and summer, says Ashley Finster, vice president of marketing.

She said the marketer is on track for a great season.

“As always, Mother Nature has had a mind of her own and has sent some cooler weather and storms towards our domestic growers,” Finster said. “However, we’re seeing increasing supplies that will last throughout the summer.”

With demand and supply rising seasonally, Naturipe is encouraging retailers to promote berries with bright, colorful signage.

“Strawberries and blueberries pair nicely, and they can easily share the shelf,” Finster said. “We suggest placing several berry varieties together to create a berry patch appearance.”

Naturipe is offering its premium Mighty Blues and Mighty Reds, jumbo versions of its classic strawberries and blueberries.

“We also will have several Sweet Selections — sweeter options of fan-favorite berries — available this summer, including our blueberries and blackberries,” Finster said.

Other marketing efforts include running promotions about in-season produce, she said.

Finster said social media is a great way to engage with customers.

“We like to tie our content in with events or holidays; for example, in March, we shared a bracket-style series of stories where followers could vote for their favorite recipes,” she said. “We’re also posting about the Berry Road Trip right now, a series of content that will highlight different Naturipe berries and our growers around the country.”

Naturipe is always reviewing packaging technology and improvements to advance the sustainability of its packaging, she said.

“We are close to completing the transition to wash away labels to optimize the recycling of packaging for the recycling infrastructure,” Finster said. “Additionally, we use high levels of post-consumer recycled content in our packaging and as well certified ocean-bound plastic.”

Retailers embrace berry promotions

Tue, 07 May 2024 15:55:59 GMT

Berries are rising to the occasion.

A check with the USDA’s Specialty Crop Retail Report the week of April 19 showed that strawberries accounted for 4% of total conventional retail produce ads, with blueberries accounting for 3% of retail conventional produce ads. Those numbers compare with 8% for apples, 7% for bell peppers, 5% for tomatoes, 4% for potatoes, grapes, oranges, grapes and mangoes and 3% for mandarins, the report said.

The USDA said strawberries accounted for 11% of organic produce promotions the week of April 19, while raspberries accounted for 4% of organic promotions. In comparison, apples accounted for 8% of organic ads, with carrots at 8%, salad at 6%, tomatoes and squash at 5% and mushrooms and mandarins at 3%.

As a percentage of total fruit ads at retail, the USDA said strawberries scored 10%, blueberries 7%, and blackberries 5% on April 19.

Streaking strawberries

Retailers promoting a 1-pound package of strawberries totaled 7,509 stores on April 19, up nearly 300% from the same time a year ago. The average advertised price for the 1-pound package was $2.98, down 9% from $3.27 a year ago.

The USDA reported that total strawberry supply for the week of April 14-20 was running well above year-ago levels, with total shipments of 5.6 million 12-pound trays, up 11% from 5.03 million trays a year ago. Organic strawberries accounted for 3.7% of total strawberry volume, according to USDA data.

Central California strawberries accounted for 44% of total strawberry supplies in mid-April, up from 19% at the same time a year ago. Other regions supplying the U.S. market in mid-April included Southern California (35%), Mexico (18%) and North Carolina (1%).

Season-to-date shipments of strawberries were way up for both central California and Southern California.

Through April 20, central California strawberry shipments totaled 7.54 million 12-pound trays, up 277% from 2 million trays at the same time a year ago. Southern California strawberry shipments through April 20 totaled 24.3 million, up 41% from 17.7 million trays at the same time a year ago.

The average shipping point price for strawberries for April 20 was $15.68 per tray, down down 18% from $19.09 per tray on April 15 in 2023.

Blueberries busting out

The USDA reported that 5,820 retailers were promoting 6-ounce packages of blueberries on April 19, up 6% from a year ago. The average promoted price was $2.69, up 10% from the same week last year.

Supplies of blueberries in mid-April were off slightly compared with the same time a year ago, with the USDA reporting a total supply of 15.5 million pounds, off 15% compared with the same time a year ago. Organic blueberry supplies totaled 15% of total blueberry supplies for the week of April 14-20.

Leading domestic and foreign suppliers of blueberries in mid-April included Mexico (56% of total supply), Florida (19%), Georgia (11%) and Peru (9%).

The average shipping point price for blueberries on April 20 was $28.20 per carton, down from $30.08 per carton the same time a year ago.

Raspberries and blackberries

Retail promotions of 6-ounce packages of raspberries totaled 4,429 stores on April 19, with an average price of $2.81. The USDA did not have data for raspberry promotions for the same week a year ago.

Raspberry shipments reported by the USDA totaled 7.12 million pounds in mid-April, down 11% from the same week a year ago.

Retail promotions of blackberries in 6-ounce packages on April 19 totaled 5,840 stores, up 6% from 5,492 stores promoting blackberries the same time a year ago. The average promoted price for blackberries on April 19 was $2.69 per package, up 10% from the same time a year ago.

The average shipping point price for blackberries in April 2024 was $12.97 per carton, down from $17.89 per carton at the same time a year ago.

Fresh Trends data shows demographic data behind berry purchases

Wed, 08 May 2024 18:29:07 GMT

Berries are a hit with all demographics, but The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2024 data reveals where strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries shine.

Fresh Trends 2024, a survey of more than 1,100 consumers conducted in mid-October 2023, found that 60% of consumers said they purchased fresh strawberries in the previous year, compared with 54% for blueberries, 33% for blackberries and 28% for raspberries.

Higher-income consumers reported the highest percentage of berry purchases in the past year, according to Fresh Trends. Here is a summary of reported purchases by annual household income for berry varieties:

Strawberries — The highest reported purchase rates are in the $50,000 to $100,000 (65%) and the $100,000-plus income (66%) groups. The lowest purchase rate is in the under $25,000 income group at 41%.
Blueberries — The highest purchase rate is in the $100,000-plus income group at 68%, while the lowest purchase rate is in the under $25,000 group at 32%.
Blackberries — The highest purchase rate is in the $100,000-plus income group at 45%; the lowest purchase rate is in the under $25,000 income group at 17%.
Raspberries — The highest purchase rate is in the $100,000-plus income group at 41%, while the lowest purchase rate is in the under $25,000 income group at 15%.

For all four berries, Fresh Trends 2024 data showed purchase rates were lowest in the under $25,000 income group and highest in the $100,000 and up income group, indicating that berry purchases increase with higher household income levels.

In terms of age demographics, Fresh Trends found that for all four berries, purchases tend to be lowest in the youngest 18-29 age group. Berry purchases increase with older age groups, peaking in the 40s, 50s or 60 and older age ranges depending on the berry. In general, the data suggest that berry purchases increase with age.

Here is selected data on reported berry purchases by age:

Strawberries — The highest purchase rate is in the 60 or older age group at 64%, while the lowest purchase rate is in the 18-29 age group at 50%.
Blueberries — The highest purchase rates are in the 50-59 (58%) and 40-49 (57%) age groups; the lowest purchase rate is in the 18-29 age group at 46%.
Blackberries — The highest purchase rate is in the 30-39 age group at 38.6%, while the lowest purchase rate is in the 18-29 age group at 28%.
Raspberries — The highest purchase rate is in the 50-59 age group at 35%; the lowest purchase rate is in the 18-29 age group at 22%.

Other factors

Fresh Trends 2024 data showed a slightly higher purchase rate for consumers with dependent children compared to those without. In general, having dependent children in the household corresponds to more frequent reports of berry purchases.

For blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, the data shows higher purchase rates for households with dependent children compared to those without. For these three berries, the highest purchase rate tends to be in households with two or more kids.

However, for strawberries, Fresh Trends data shows a slightly lower purchase rate for households with kids versus those with no kids.

Relative to geographic region, Fresh Trends 2024 data indicated that for blackberries and raspberries, the West region had the highest purchase rates. For blueberries and strawberries, the highest purchase rates were found in the Northeast U.S.

The Midwest consistently had among the lowest purchase rates for all four berry types, according to survey. The specific regional rankings varied by berry, but the Northeast and West tended to have higher berry purchases compared to the Midwest and South regions, according to the data.

White/Caucasian consumers, in general, tended to have the highest or second-highest rate of reported berry purchases across types of berries, while Black/African American consumers consistently had the lowest purchase rates for all berry types, according to Fresh Trends 2024 data.

For example, Fresh Trends 2024 data showed the highest fresh blueberry purchase rates for White/Caucasian consumers at 57%, while 42% of Black/African American consumers reported fresh blueberry purchases.

Berry per capita availability growth shines

Fri, 12 May 2023 12:12:13 GMT

The berry category is sizzling hot.

The USDA reports that the gains in retail per capita consumption for berries have been very strong compared with many other fresh fruits.

According to the USDA, retail per capita consumption of blueberries has increased 97% in the past 10 years, growing from 1.2 pounds in 2011 to 2.3 pounds in 2022.

Raspberries have shown even more remarkable percentage growth, gaining 192% from 0.3 pounds in 2011 to 0.8 pounds in 2021.

Strawberry consumption also continues to grow, though at a slower percentage pace compared with blueberries and raspberries. Strawberry consumption grew from 4.6 pounds in 2011 to 6.7 pounds in 2021, a gain of 45%.

Here is a list of fresh fruits, with per capita growth since 2011, as reported by the USDA.

Growth in per capita availability from 2011 to 2021: (retail per capita availability in 2021 in pounds, with the percentage change from 2011)

Raspberries: 0.8 pound, up 192%.
Blueberries: 2.3 pounds, up 97%.
Limes: 4.4 pounds, up 86%.
Tangerines and tangelos: 6.6 pounds, up 69%.
Avocados: 7.9 pounds, up 64%.
Strawberries: 6.7 pounds, up 45%.
Mangoes: 3.5 pounds, up 44%.
Lemons: 4.7 pounds, up 42%.
Kiwifruit: 0.7 pound, up 39%.
Pineapples: 7.5 pounds, up 38%.
Papayas: 1.3 pounds, up 28%.
Grapes: 7.7 pounds, up 15%.
Total citrus: 25.1 pounds, up 14%.
Cherries: 1.3 pounds, up 10%.
Total fresh fruit: 131.8 pounds, up 9%.
Total non-citrus: 106.7 pounds, up 8%.
Bananas: 26.9 pounds, up 5%.
Apples: 15.2 pounds, up 2%.
Pears: 3 pounds, down 3%.
Melons: 19 pounds, down 13%.
Oranges: 7.9 pounds, down 18%.
Apricots: 0.1 pound, down 21%.
Plums and prunes: 0.5 pound, down 42%.
Grapefruit: 1.4 pounds, down 46%.
Peaches and nectarines: 2.3 pounds, down 47%.

North Bay Produce to offer big berry options for summer

Fri, 10 May 2024 17:20:30 GMT

Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries will be offered throughout the summer by North Bay Produce, says Brian Klumpp, director of sales and marketing.

Klumpp said the Traverse City, Mich.-based marketer anticipates that supplies this year should be better on blackberries and blueberries as compared to last year, with raspberry volume a bit lighter compared with a year ago.

“These berries will be available in both conventional and organic offerings,” Klumpp said. “Organic blackberries and raspberries, however, should only be available through June. As summer progresses, we expect to have larger volumes of organic blueberries.”

Varietal development has been a focus for many years at North Bay, he said. In its blueberry variety selections, Klumpp said the company offers Sekoya blueberries.

“There are several other varieties in various stages of development on blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, and in the end, the consumers will be the real winners as the berries just get better year after year,” he said.

Social media will play a significant role in promoting North Bay Produce berries this summer.

“Instagram and LinkedIn are particular focuses for North Bay to share with consumers and retailers what is new and exciting about these great berries,” Klumpp said. “Recipes, packaging and varietal innovations will continue to be emphasized and that should help build excitement in the market.”

In terms of packaging changes, this year North Bay introduced its State Labels, which highlight the region where berries are grown, Klumpp said.

“As consumers want to support local farms, these new labels make that decision easier for shoppers,” he said. “And speaking of packaging, [North Bay Produce’s] top-seal punnets continue to grow in volume as retailers and consumers like them for the security they provide, the ease of use as well as the reduced plastic in the packaging.”

Blueberries top poll for growth potential

Mon, 13 May 2024 20:43:15 GMT

Even considering their growth in the last two decades, blueberries were identified in a poll of industry professionals as the berry with the biggest potential to grow consumption in the next five years.

The 268 voting in a poll in the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group were asked, “What berry category has the most room to grow in the next five years?”

The results of the poll were:

Blueberries — 41%.
Blackberries — 27%.
Strawberries — 16%.
Raspberries — 15%.

USDA per capita retail numbers shows strong gains for each fresh berry category.

The USDA does not report blackberry per capita consumption.

Raspberry retail per capita consumption in 2021 totaled 0.8 pounds, up 166% from 0.3 pounds in 2011 and up 700% from 0.1 pounds in 2001.

Strawberry retail per capita consumption in 2021 totaled 6.7 pounds, up 45% from 4.6 pounds in 2011 and up 131% from 2.9 pounds in 2001.

Blueberry retail per capita consumption was 2.3 pounds in 2021, up 92% from 1.2 pounds in 2011 and up 667% from 0.3 pounds in 2011.

Trade numbers show explosive growth of all berries.

U.S. import value of all berries excluding strawberries totaled $4.3 billion in 2023, up 339% from 2013 and up 1,940% from 2003.

U.S. import value of fresh and frozen strawberries were $1.49 billion in 2023, up 331% from 2013 and up 1,275% from 2003.

Driscoll’s Berry Mobile tour returning this summer with more events

Wed, 29 May 2024 21:09:06 GMT

Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll’s is bringing back its Berry Mobile tour to the Northeast this summer.

With 21 planned stops — including New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. — the tour brings to life Driscoll’s “Sweetness Worth Sharing” campaign, offering berry lovers an opportunity to create memories and form special moments of connection, according to a news release. The branded experience will include free berry treats as well as interactive elements.

“Driscoll’s ‘Sweetness Worth Sharing’ campaign was inspired by human connection and the unique ways we create memories in small, everyday moments,” Jamie Bassmann, director of brand and digital marketing for Driscoll’s, said in the release. “The Berry Mobile not only provides a deeper more memorable in-person brand moment, with two-way conversation, but when overlayed with a digital and social media strategy, we are able to increase our reach and impact of our investment. Experiential brand marketing can be thought of as the easiest, turnkey solution for reaching millions of berry consumers, in-person, with a tasty and memorable brand experience.”

A strategic focus on priority markets was placed for cities in the Northeast, Driscoll’s says. The Berry Mobile will be centrally positioned at highly attended community gatherings, mainly in New York and Boston, with 12 new events for 2024 — an expansion that is anticipated to increase total attendance by 39%, according to the release.

The experience will feature free berry sundaes and berry bowls served from Driscoll’s Berry Mobile, the release said. The setup will also offer cornhole, a giant four-in-a-row game and an on-site mailbox where attendees can share the experience via postcard. Attendees will be encouraged to post their memories with the Berry Mobile on social media and tag the brand.

The Driscoll’s website features a list of all the tour stops scheduled until the end of September .

“This summer, we added more stops to the Berry Mobile’s tour schedule to share the unparalleled joy that comes with eating fresh, delicious berries,” Hannah Cannon, brand marketing specialist for Driscoll’s, said in the release. “Taking a regional approach in our top markets with high brand awareness will open the door to events within a day’s drive that can provide not only a larger pool of events to choose from, but also allows a presence in multiple markets. In its larger-than-life yellow and joyful berry icons, the Berry Mobile will be hard to miss and impossible to resist.”