California raspberries have their place in the berry patch
California raspberries have their place in the berry patch
While not as prominent as strawberries or blueberries in the minds of consumers, raspberries hold a position of note in the berry patch, vying with blackberries for the third spot.
The fragile raspberry tends to have a low yield. Raspberries from California are available from summer through early fall. The Pacific Northwest has raspberries in the late fall and Chile has raspberries in the winter.
Watsonville, CA-based California Giant Berry Farms harvests raspberries from May to November, depending on the weather. The company's raspberry harvest typically enjoys two peaks: one in early June and another in September.
Cal Giant's raspberry acreage is up a little compared with last year, said Cindy Jewell, director of marketing.
Cal Giant offers conventional raspberries only and is "trying to grow that part of the category," Ms. Jewell said.
The presence of raspberries in Cal Giant's berry patch "adds to the whole product line," she said. The company has developed "some fun, easy recipes that can help out with the purchasing aspect," Ms. Jewell said. A chef developed recipes exclusively for Cal Giant.
Raspberries are cholesterol-free, are high in Vitamin C and have only about 35 calories per serving.
"Customers want [raspberries] all season long," Ms. Jewell said. The harvest in Chile runs directly opposite California's harvest, from November to March or April.
Cal Giant has strawberries 52 weeks a year. The company should have year- round supplies of blackberries this year and blueberries anywhere from 40 to 45 weeks. The raspberry program is lagging behind the other berries.
Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates grows raspberries in California in Watsonville, Santa Maria and Oxnard. The company has 52 weeks of conventional and organic raspberries in California. Its raspberry program in central Mexico in the winter "helps enable us to have a year- round supply," said Nishan Moutafian, Driscoll's raspberry and blackberry business manager.
The company has seen increased demand for its organic raspberries, said Mr. Moutafian. Organics make up a small percentage of the firm's business compared with conventionally grown raspberries.
Oxnard's harvest is strong now and will be for the spring and summer, Mr. Moutafian said. The raspberry harvest in Santa Maria runs comparably to Watsonville's.
"Watsonville will go strong through the summer with a peak in June and go through November," Mr. Moutafian said. Driscoll's overall raspberry program is bigger than last year with increased acreage of proprietary raspberries, he said. The company's variety mix in Northern California has proven successful for both growers and customers, he noted.
"We're coming into the best fruit of the year," Mr. Moutafian said. "We've seen demand increase throughout the year."
Mr. Moutafian said that Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving are all good promotional periods for raspberries.
Watsonville, CA-based Well-Pict grows both conventional and organic raspberries in both Oxnard and Watsonville. Production is underway in Oxnard and will hit full steam in July and run through November.
Well-Pict Sales Manager Dan Crowley told The Produce News May 26 that raspberry production in Watsonville was beginning to peak.
"June is huge," Mr. Crowley said. Well-Pict's raspberry acreage is up 10 percent compared with last year, and the company is "at the level we want to be," he said, adding that consumption is up.
Well-Pict also grows proprietary varieties in central Mexico in the winter months, so that it has raspberries 52 weeks a year.
Crop volume was behind for Memorial Day, but the Fourth of July should be a good promotional holiday, Mr. Crowley said.
"We're very pleased with our breeding program that works best for Oxnard and Watsonville," Mr. Crowley said.
The fragile raspberry tends to have a low yield. Raspberries from California are available from summer through early fall. The Pacific Northwest has raspberries in the late fall and Chile has raspberries in the winter.
Watsonville, CA-based California Giant Berry Farms harvests raspberries from May to November, depending on the weather. The company's raspberry harvest typically enjoys two peaks: one in early June and another in September.
Cal Giant's raspberry acreage is up a little compared with last year, said Cindy Jewell, director of marketing.
Cal Giant offers conventional raspberries only and is "trying to grow that part of the category," Ms. Jewell said.
The presence of raspberries in Cal Giant's berry patch "adds to the whole product line," she said. The company has developed "some fun, easy recipes that can help out with the purchasing aspect," Ms. Jewell said. A chef developed recipes exclusively for Cal Giant.
Raspberries are cholesterol-free, are high in Vitamin C and have only about 35 calories per serving.
"Customers want [raspberries] all season long," Ms. Jewell said. The harvest in Chile runs directly opposite California's harvest, from November to March or April.
Cal Giant has strawberries 52 weeks a year. The company should have year- round supplies of blackberries this year and blueberries anywhere from 40 to 45 weeks. The raspberry program is lagging behind the other berries.
Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates grows raspberries in California in Watsonville, Santa Maria and Oxnard. The company has 52 weeks of conventional and organic raspberries in California. Its raspberry program in central Mexico in the winter "helps enable us to have a year- round supply," said Nishan Moutafian, Driscoll's raspberry and blackberry business manager.
The company has seen increased demand for its organic raspberries, said Mr. Moutafian. Organics make up a small percentage of the firm's business compared with conventionally grown raspberries.
Oxnard's harvest is strong now and will be for the spring and summer, Mr. Moutafian said. The raspberry harvest in Santa Maria runs comparably to Watsonville's.
"Watsonville will go strong through the summer with a peak in June and go through November," Mr. Moutafian said. Driscoll's overall raspberry program is bigger than last year with increased acreage of proprietary raspberries, he said. The company's variety mix in Northern California has proven successful for both growers and customers, he noted.
"We're coming into the best fruit of the year," Mr. Moutafian said. "We've seen demand increase throughout the year."
Mr. Moutafian said that Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving are all good promotional periods for raspberries.
Watsonville, CA-based Well-Pict grows both conventional and organic raspberries in both Oxnard and Watsonville. Production is underway in Oxnard and will hit full steam in July and run through November.
Well-Pict Sales Manager Dan Crowley told The Produce News May 26 that raspberry production in Watsonville was beginning to peak.
"June is huge," Mr. Crowley said. Well-Pict's raspberry acreage is up 10 percent compared with last year, and the company is "at the level we want to be," he said, adding that consumption is up.
Well-Pict also grows proprietary varieties in central Mexico in the winter months, so that it has raspberries 52 weeks a year.
Crop volume was behind for Memorial Day, but the Fourth of July should be a good promotional holiday, Mr. Crowley said.
"We're very pleased with our breeding program that works best for Oxnard and Watsonville," Mr. Crowley said.
