California Giant Berry Farms grows and ships strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. In early May the company was shipping strawberries from California.

Cindy Jewell, vice president of marketing, said production was primarily from the Santa Maria and the Salinas/Watsonville areas.

“These regions will continue to produce fresh strawberries well into the winter months until it rains, which is typically November,” said Jewell. “Blueberries are now coming from California and Georgia, where production will continue until the Northwest begins harvesting in June. Volume shifts to that region through August.”

Georgia blueberries coming on strong for California Giant Berry Farms.Raspberries from California Giant, she added, are currently being produced in the Oxnard area, but volumes will shift north to the Watsonville region in May and run through the summer.

“Blackberries are being produced in Mexico, and volumes will continue into May,” she said. “Then we will also shift to the Watsonville region in California.”

California Giant Berry Farms provides its trade partners the opportunity to support a locally grown program with its berries. Jewell said the company has provided customers with point-of-sale materials and direct shipments for specific customers that take advantage of the seasonal locally grown opportunity.

“We have year-round production on all berry categories except for raspberries,” Jewell explained. “We are currently supporting a breeding program for raspberries and hope to expand soon to year-round availability as varieties become available that can support annual production.”

The company ships across North America and internationally under the “California Giant” label.

In March, Kristin Kleiber, previously a sales coordinator, for California Giant, was promoted to marketing and sales analyst. Kleiber now supports Jewel’s efforts in marketing. She also works under Anthony Gallino, vice president of sales, where she analyzes accounts, regional volume trends and returns.

“One of her new responsibilities is to distribute a bi-weekly trade e-newsletter featuring a crop forecast, sales and volume trends, marketing programs and other company news,” said Jewell. “This has been well received by our trading partners, and each time it is distributed we receive more requests to be added to the distribution list.”

California Giant launched its “StrawPalooza” marketing program on May 1. It capitalizes on May as National Strawberry Month, but the promotion will extend into the summer.

“This is a consumer campaign that will be featured throughout our social media channels, kicking off a summer-long celebration of strawberries,” explained Jewell. “The campaign includes consumer contests, and each week one lucky entry will win a swag pack. In August one lucky entry will win a pallet of berries and party pack to have their own block party or donate to their favorite charity.”

In addition, the company is engaging in a cooperative campaign with three other produce partners called “Skinny Summertime Sweepstakes.” It has weekly winners, a grand prize, YouTube videos, exclusive recipe offers and more. 

California Giant is launching a completely new website in mid-May.