Bob Von Rohr, director of customer relations for Sunny Valley International, said the New Jersey’s blueberry crop is on track for a great season.

The company, headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, has enjoyed favorable weather this spring for producing an excellent and full crop.

“Timing of movements out of New Jersey appears to be heading toward a normal start,” said Von Rohr. “And indications are that growers will have a good supply of labor for harvesting.”

Based on bloom time, the company’s growers will start harvesting between June 16 and 20, reflecting the normal start.

“The peak harvest period for our New Jersey blues will be around June 25 through the later part of July, which is perfect timing for summer time promotional opportunities,” explained Von Rohr. “We’ll have great promotable volumes for the July 4 holiday. It’s a nice solid full crop of sound, high-quality Jersey blues.”

Sunny Valley’s “Jersey Fruit” growing partners are particularly proud of their Highbush varieties: Duke and Bluecrop. Both are well known and sought out for their large size, nice bloom finish and outstanding flavor. Von Rohr noted, “Customers should be thinking big — as in big blueberries.”

The company’s New Jersey blueberries are hand-picked to ensure only the best quality is being harvested.

The Duke is the early season variety, and the Bluecrop variety runs in mid-season to the end of the harvest. The same varieties are used for both conventional and organic production.

Von Rohr noted that although the company expects a plentiful crop for July 4, which has always been a natural fit with blueberries, there are also great opportunities available for later promotions.

The company’s one-pint, 12-pack box “Jersey Fruit” label will continue to be its standard pack. Von Rohr said that customers are demanding more 18-ounce clamshells and two-pound packs to help drive additional sales at the register.

All of Sunny Valley’s blueberry packs will carry the “Jersey Fruit” label with the “dancing blueberry” characters in a high-graphic box.

Sunny Valley has partnered with its “Jersey Fruit” blueberry growers in establishing food safety as its first priority.

It works with the largest organic blueberry producer in New Jersey, Big Buck Farms in Hammonton. Its organic blueberries carry the “Little Buck Organics” label. Organic packaging options are half-pint and full-pint packs.

“This year is shaping up to be a record year for Big Buck Farms organic blues,” said Von Rohr. “Our ‘Little Buck’ organic blueberries are certified by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey. Organic blueberries will be available from mid-June to early-August.”

He added that overall, everything looks very promising for an excellent New Jersey blueberry season.

“With the demand for blueberries higher than ever and continually increasing due to the widespread media coverage of the health benefits, we’re happy to be bringing this high-quality crop to our customers and to consumers,” said Von Rohr.