Warm spring weather has resulted in a high-quality and good-volume New Jersey peach crop for Eastern Propak’s growers.

Jeff Danner, general manager of the Glassboro, NJ-company, told The Produce News that the crop was on track for a normal start of around July 4.

“The Sentry, an early variety cling peach, will take us to about July 18. It is the first commercial crop for retailers,” said Danner. “Along with it we’ll be moving the John Boy, also a clink peach, which runs until July 17 or 18. Peak volumes of other varieties will start in the later part of July and run throughout August and into September.”

Jeff Danner on the first run of the New Jersey peach season at Eastern Propak.Danner said the weather has been outstanding and that overall Eastern Propak is extremely optimistic this season.

One grower started spot-picking his peaches the last weekend in June, and others were expected to follow right behind.

“As we move into freestones peaches things will start moving strongly,” said Danner. “The big volume programs will begin in the later part of July.”

He explained that under normal conditions each peach variety runs for seven to 10 days, and growers pick ever other or every third day as the weather becomes more consistent and volumes reach their peak.

Eastern Propak is also very proud to have partnered with Campbell’s Soup and The Food Bank of South Jersey in its Just Peachy Salsa campaign. The program raises money to buy food to feed hungry people in South Jersey. Campbell’s takes peaches that are too small or damaged and produces the salsa, which is bottled, labeled and boxed by some 200 company volunteers at its facility in Camden.

Danner explained, “Our growers, which make up the South Jersey Cooperative, donate the peaches that they would otherwise have to pay someone to cart away because they aren’t suitable for fresh sales. We met with the program administrators in mid-June, and everyone agrees that the program will increase again this year. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Eastern Propak is a premier repacker in the tri-state region. It handles domestic and a long and growing list of imported fruits and vegetables.

It had an extremely strong Chilean import season this year, which runs from mid-December through May, and is particularly strong in grapes.

The company has grown exponentially in recent years, causing it to need additional space. Danner said that plans are to build a new 70,000-square-foot cold and freezer storage and repack facility which will be connected to its existing 100,000-square-foot facility via a tunnel. It is expected to be running in about 16 months.

The company is highly diversified, and also does a lot of imported citrus bagging.

“We handle citrus from around the world,” said Danner. “If the lights are on in our building, we’re packing citrus. The label of every bag identifies the country of origin. In fact, every piece of produce that enters our building has full traceback all the way to the field.”