HAMMONTON, NJ — It’s no secret that growers always keep an eye on the weather. John Galaida, general manager of Pleasantdale Farms, is no exception. In looking at the upcoming New Jersey blueberry season, he took a look back at the 2014-15 winter and the impact it might have.

“It was a colder than average winter,” he told The Produce News Wednesday morning, May 27 at his office here in southern New Jersey.

“Going into the end of February, we had some below-zero temperatures,” he continued. “Late in April we had a late freeze which probably affected some low-lying areas. Going into the spring, bee pollination was excellent. And right now this [warmer] weather is bringing on some really good growth on the bushes. You can see a lot of new growth on the bushes.”

Asked about the upcoming crop in the Garden State, Galaida said that “berry size is difficult to predict at this stage.” As to expected volume, “I believe it’s going to be an average-size crop,” he said, “but the fruit quality looks excellent.”

For Pleasantdale Farms, he added, “I would have to say that we’re looking to larger-than-average size berries.”

Galaida has been in the blueberry industry for more than 36 years and has been general manager at Pleasantdale Farms since it was acquired by Frank Donio Inc. in 2002.

Hammonton-based Frank Donio Inc., a grower, shipper and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables, sources blueberries from all over the world, including New Jersey. Pleasantdale Farms is one of the main contributors to Donio’s Jersey blueberry program.

Pleasantdale Farms has a total of about 400 acres of blueberries: 300 acres here in Hammonton, which it calls the home farm, and about 100 acres a few miles away in Mullica Township, which it calls the Nesco Farm.

“We continue to renovate older fields and replace those plantings with newer varieties,” said Galaida. “We’re running a few test plots of different varieties and see how they work out. Those varieties are both early-season and later season varieties as well as varieties that are more easily harvested by machines.”

With winter just a memory and May seeing warm temperatures, Galaida said that customers as usual were anxious for the Jersey blueberry season to begin.

“Customers are looking for the start date for New Jersey,” he said. “A few have asked about how the winter affected the berries. They want to know about the quality.”

Galaida had no qualms assuring them about the 2015 Jersey blueberry season. When it comes to New Jersey blueberries, declared Galaida, “they’re the best.”