Sunny Valley International’s New Jersey peach crop is in great condition in both quality and volumes this year. And it’s expected to have a normal start.

Bob Von Rohr, director of customer relations, said that the cold winter and good moisture have combined to ensure a nice crop.

The peach trees had an outstanding bloom with a full crop set by around April 18,” said Von Rohr, noting, “We’re on track for a normal seasonal movement start of approximately July 1.”

A bounteous cluster of New Jersey peaches from Sunny Valley International.He added that good volumes of peaches will be available by mid-July. Peak volumes come on in later July. The crop will run through the end of September.

Von Rohr pointed out that New Jersey nectarines have also been a longtime consumer favorite due the high color and excellent eating quality. This season the company expects to see good production of nectarines and white peaches thanks to favorable weather.

Sunny Valley also has some very nice late season peach varieties that don’t get out to the retail trade as well as they could, he said.

Retailers, Von Rohr noted, can capitalize on extra sales’ rings by promoting New Jersey peaches during the month of September because they make a great item for back to school lunch boxes.

“Post-Labor Day trend has retailers wanting to back off on peaches,” he explained. “Orders tend to drop way down, and that’s a shame because the peaches are really outstanding through September. We want the late season support to help move this great crop.”

Sunny Valley International is the exclusive sales and marketing agent for the “Jersey Fruit” and “Just Picked” labels. Sunny Valley is one of the larger shippers for stone fruit out of New Jersey.

A supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables to North American since 1986, it added domestic fresh fruits to its lineup in the mid-1990s. Besides peaches and nectarines, the company markets blueberries, imported grapes, pears, apples, blueberries and South Carolina peaches.

The company’s peach growing partners have made a commitment to a PrimusLabs food-safety program to ensure the highest level of confidence to its customers.

“Product traceability plays an integral part of food safety we are implementing the Produce Traceability Initiative with case level coding on ‘as requested’ basis,” he said. “Our growers that focus on sustainability include Larchmont Farms, our largest New Jersey peach grower.”

All Sunny Valley’s Jersey peach and blueberry growers participate in an Integrated Pest Management Program that emphasizes the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems. And it encourages natural pest control. Supporting local grown produce help reduce the carbon footprint.

Sunny Valley boasts long-term relationships with growers and exporters as well as its industry expertise and experience.

“We know who the players are and how to bring a quality fruit product to market,” said Von Rohr. “We are committed to developing and maintaining long-term relationships with our growers, exporters and customers that allows us to conduct fair and honest trade in the produce industry.”