Strawberries have been tight for the past couple of months. This has made it difficult for retailers to meet their berry sales versus last year. Florida has been the main supplier thus far, placing pressure on the demand. But there is some relief in sight as California and Mexico will start to improve by harvesting more volume.

This year Bobalu Berry Farms will celebrate its 60th anniversary, but after expanding on multiple fronts the Jones family views 2021 as the real milestone year, completing the transition to a fully integrated company.  

“Last year was the year we did all the heavy lifting with software integration and building a strong team for the future," said RC Jones, managing partner. "2022 will be a year where we are fully established and ready to roll.”

Persistent rains in California last week created a limited supply of various crops out west. According to Markon Cooperative reports, there will be little if any harvesting of strawberries from Oxnard and Santa Maria until the week of Jan. 10. Growers are transferring Mexican-grown fruit to supplement their California shipments through January, though transfers were limited last week as a result of Christmas and New Year’s Eve/Day holiday closures.

California Giant Berry Farms, a leading producer of fresh, sustainable berries, announced its forecast for a strong winter strawberry crop, led by its Florida and Mexico growing regions.

"The 2021-22 Florida strawberry started strong,” said James Tipton, district manager at California Giant Berry Farms. “Weather always plays a critical role in our crop’s success, but there looks to be a long forecast suggesting better temperatures than last year." She said Florida strawberries should peak in mid-February — around Valentine’s Day.

International grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, Wish Farms, announced a fifth berry to its lineup: Pink-A-Boo Pineberries.

California Giant Berry Farms, a leader in fresh sustainable berries, recently unveiled its new website, www.calgiant.com. An extension of the brand's evolution, the new website conveys California Giant’s dedication to delivering the highest quality berries in the most sustainable way through enhanced educational content.