California Giant Berry Farms announced its People’s Choice winner and chef finalists of its 2022 Chef Invitational.  

The finalists and their recipes are:   

Washington blueberry growers are readying for a record-breaking blueberry season this summer. Eastern Washington is well under way picking and shipping to local grocery stores, restaurants, retail shops and across the globe. Western Washington will more than double the state’s yields as it enters production.

California was hit with rain in the northern berry regions, which has impacted production. This could temporarily slow some strawberry promotions. Although rain is welcomed and definitely needed for crops, it can also disrupt the harvesting and packing process.

Ever Tru Farms, a vertically integrated year-round supplier of premium strawberries and a division of Soave Hydroponics, is launching Phase Two of its expansion. The farm will expand an additional 15 acres (653,000 SF), bringing the farm to a total of 40 acres of production. The company will begin planting in early August, with harvesting coming near the end of September for the expanded facility.

Berries Unlimited has released its new Honey Champion (patent pending) honeyberry/Haskap variety, made from 100 percent Japanese origin.

The Honey Champion honeyberry plant is wind resistant, not breakable and not fragile during new growth. The honeyberry bush grows to five to six feet tall and is a very vigorous and fast grower.

With National Blueberry Month in full swing, Naturipe is expecting to have promotable volumes of its jumbo blueberries, Mighty Blues, from Michigan, the Pacific Northwest and Peru. These fresh, firm and flavorful blueberries are consumer favorites and fly off the shelf.