Albion variety and organic strawberries on the rise
Albion variety and organic strawberries on the rise
Though proprietary varieties represent the largest percentage of strawberries planted statewide, representing 40 percent of the state's acreage, it is a University of California variety -- Albion -- that experienced the biggest jumped in acreage planted this year over last.
Albion represented 8 percent of California's strawberry acreage in 2006, but in 2007, Albion acreage jumped to 29 percent of the total. Diamante, which was the state's second-largest variety in 2006, decreased to 890 acres, or 3 percent of the crop, according to the California Strawberry Commission's 2007 acreage survey report. Albion acreage in California is primarily confined to the Watsonville-Salinas area and Santa Maria.
For Watsonville-based California Giant, the Albion variety has supplanted the Diamante variety entirely in its strawberry program. This year in the Watsonville-Salinas area, Albion accounts for 100 percent of Cal Giant's strawberry plantings.
"We were seeing some negative response on Diamante," said Cindy Jewell, Cal Giant's marketing director. Diamante "looked good but wasn't sweet enough." This year in Santa Maria, 70 percent of Cal Giant's strawberry acreage is in the Albion variety, and the other 30 percent is the Ventana variety.
Anthony Gallino, Cal Giant's vice president of sales, said that retailers and foodservice are both clamoring for the Albion variety. "In October, [Albion] still tastes as great as in June," Mr. Gallino said.
Cal Giant will have 40 acres of organic Albion in the Watsonville-Salinas area this year.
Santa Ynez, CA-based Red Blossom Farms Inc. is almost exclusively growing the Albion strawberry variety in the Watsonville-Salinas area. This represents a major increase in Albion plantings.
"Albion does well in the Watsonville-Salinas area," said company marketing director Michelle Deleissegues. "We had a good shipping year [last year] with its appearance and flavor. Every year we've planted a little more."
The company also has a sizable increase in acreage planted in Salinas. The company had the Diamante variety in Salinas in 2006 but has no Diamante acreage this year.
Craig Moriyama, based in Salinas, CA, and vice president of strawberry production for Naturipe Farms LLC, said that the Albion strawberry variety will lead the way, accounting for about 99 percent of the company's strawberries in the Watsonville-Salinas area.
Santa Maria counted an increase of 515 acres compared to last year. Camarosa and Diamante fell by 1,547 acres (-61 percent) and 1,465 acres (-89 percent) respectively. Proprietary varieties total 16 percent of this district's acreage. Albion is at 3,739 acres, and now comprises 48 percent of the district's strawberries. Other varieties increased to 1,024 acres.
The Camarosa variety, likewise, has decreased from 5,675 acres statewide in 2006 to 3,337 in 2007. The Ventana variety slightly increased to 4,914 acres compared with 4,634 acres in 2006. Berries in the "other" category total 1,647 acres or 5 percent of the state's total.
Fall-planted organic acreage statewide increased by 359 acres, primarily in the Watsonville-Salinas district, while Oxnard decreased by 61 acres. Santa Maria increased organic acreage from 95 to 207 acres.
Projected summer planted organic acreage will increase from 57 to 104 acres (or 82 percent). Total organic acreage was 1,370 acres, an increase of 405 acres compared with 2006.
In 2007, all major varieties contribute to the state's organic acreage. Proprietary varieties dominate the mix, totaling 62.6 percent of the state's organic acreage. Albion accounted for 171 acres. Camarosa dropped from 162 acres in 2006 to 30 acres in 2007. Camarosa and Diamante account for 2 percent each of the state's organic total, while Ventana accounts for 4.6 percent of the state's organic acreage, and other varieties account for 15.7 percent.
Total California strawberry acreage reported for the 2007 season is 34,556 acres. The increase over 2006 acreage is 401 acres, or an additional 1 percent.
California strawberry acreage planted in the fall, which produces fruit during the traditional winter, spring and summer seasons, increased in 2007 by 928 acres, or 3 percent, statewide.
Watsonville-Salinas is still the largest-volume-producing district at 37 percent of the state's acreage, although it reported a decrease of 83 acres. Albion eclipsed propriety varieties to lead the district with 49 percent or 6,249 acres. Diamante decreased from 4,378 acres in 2006 to 709 acres in 2007. The Camarosa variety decreased from 856 to 305 acres, while the Ventana variety was not planted in the district this year.
Acreage in Orange County-San Diego decreased by 74 acres. San Joaquin increased acreage, however, by 104 acres compared to the previous year. Santa Maria and Oxnard counted the largest increases in acreage planted with 583 and 317 acres respectively.
The Watsonville-Salinas district continues to be the largest-producing area with 12,773 acres planted in the fall.
California strawberry acreage to be planted in the summer, which produces during the fall season, is projected to decrease by 528 acres, or 10 percent, in 2007. Most of the projected summer planted acreage is located in Oxnard and Santa Maria, but these districts projected decreases of 350 and 68 acres, respectively, compared with 2006. Orange County-San Diego reported no acreage planted. Projected summer planted acreage for 2007 was 14 percent of the state total as compared with 16 percent in 2006.
Oxnard reported a 0.3 percent acreage increase from 2006. The Camarosa variety continues to decrease, now comprising 12 percent of the district's acreage. This is being offset with plantings of the Ventana and proprietary varieties. Proprietary varieties dominate the district with 6,843 acres, a decrease of 142 acres from the previous year. Ventana is the second-largest variety planted, accounting for 3,506 acres. Other varieties have decreased 144 acres, or -43 percent, as compared with 2006. For the first time in the district, four acres of Albion have been planted.
The Orange County area remains the primary location for acreage in the Southern District at 1,155 acres despite decreasing from last year's total of 1,301 acres. This decrease is due to land development and rising property costs in the area. Additionally, San Diego area acreage decreased to 294 acres from the previous year. Coachella reported 304 acres, an increase of 29 acres from 2006.
Ventana remains the top variety in the district, despite a decrease of 231 acres from 1,036 acres last year. These districts show that the Camarosa variety has also decreased from 718 acres in 2006 to 665 acres in 2007. Proprietary varieties represented 5 percent of the district in 2006 and increased to 16 percent in 2007. Albion represents less than 1 percent, with other varieties accounting for 1 percent.
(For more on the California strawberry deal, see the March 26 issue of The Produce News.)
Albion represented 8 percent of California's strawberry acreage in 2006, but in 2007, Albion acreage jumped to 29 percent of the total. Diamante, which was the state's second-largest variety in 2006, decreased to 890 acres, or 3 percent of the crop, according to the California Strawberry Commission's 2007 acreage survey report. Albion acreage in California is primarily confined to the Watsonville-Salinas area and Santa Maria.
For Watsonville-based California Giant, the Albion variety has supplanted the Diamante variety entirely in its strawberry program. This year in the Watsonville-Salinas area, Albion accounts for 100 percent of Cal Giant's strawberry plantings.
"We were seeing some negative response on Diamante," said Cindy Jewell, Cal Giant's marketing director. Diamante "looked good but wasn't sweet enough." This year in Santa Maria, 70 percent of Cal Giant's strawberry acreage is in the Albion variety, and the other 30 percent is the Ventana variety.
Anthony Gallino, Cal Giant's vice president of sales, said that retailers and foodservice are both clamoring for the Albion variety. "In October, [Albion] still tastes as great as in June," Mr. Gallino said.
Cal Giant will have 40 acres of organic Albion in the Watsonville-Salinas area this year.
Santa Ynez, CA-based Red Blossom Farms Inc. is almost exclusively growing the Albion strawberry variety in the Watsonville-Salinas area. This represents a major increase in Albion plantings.
"Albion does well in the Watsonville-Salinas area," said company marketing director Michelle Deleissegues. "We had a good shipping year [last year] with its appearance and flavor. Every year we've planted a little more."
The company also has a sizable increase in acreage planted in Salinas. The company had the Diamante variety in Salinas in 2006 but has no Diamante acreage this year.
Craig Moriyama, based in Salinas, CA, and vice president of strawberry production for Naturipe Farms LLC, said that the Albion strawberry variety will lead the way, accounting for about 99 percent of the company's strawberries in the Watsonville-Salinas area.
Santa Maria counted an increase of 515 acres compared to last year. Camarosa and Diamante fell by 1,547 acres (-61 percent) and 1,465 acres (-89 percent) respectively. Proprietary varieties total 16 percent of this district's acreage. Albion is at 3,739 acres, and now comprises 48 percent of the district's strawberries. Other varieties increased to 1,024 acres.
The Camarosa variety, likewise, has decreased from 5,675 acres statewide in 2006 to 3,337 in 2007. The Ventana variety slightly increased to 4,914 acres compared with 4,634 acres in 2006. Berries in the "other" category total 1,647 acres or 5 percent of the state's total.
Fall-planted organic acreage statewide increased by 359 acres, primarily in the Watsonville-Salinas district, while Oxnard decreased by 61 acres. Santa Maria increased organic acreage from 95 to 207 acres.
Projected summer planted organic acreage will increase from 57 to 104 acres (or 82 percent). Total organic acreage was 1,370 acres, an increase of 405 acres compared with 2006.
In 2007, all major varieties contribute to the state's organic acreage. Proprietary varieties dominate the mix, totaling 62.6 percent of the state's organic acreage. Albion accounted for 171 acres. Camarosa dropped from 162 acres in 2006 to 30 acres in 2007. Camarosa and Diamante account for 2 percent each of the state's organic total, while Ventana accounts for 4.6 percent of the state's organic acreage, and other varieties account for 15.7 percent.
Total California strawberry acreage reported for the 2007 season is 34,556 acres. The increase over 2006 acreage is 401 acres, or an additional 1 percent.
California strawberry acreage planted in the fall, which produces fruit during the traditional winter, spring and summer seasons, increased in 2007 by 928 acres, or 3 percent, statewide.
Watsonville-Salinas is still the largest-volume-producing district at 37 percent of the state's acreage, although it reported a decrease of 83 acres. Albion eclipsed propriety varieties to lead the district with 49 percent or 6,249 acres. Diamante decreased from 4,378 acres in 2006 to 709 acres in 2007. The Camarosa variety decreased from 856 to 305 acres, while the Ventana variety was not planted in the district this year.
Acreage in Orange County-San Diego decreased by 74 acres. San Joaquin increased acreage, however, by 104 acres compared to the previous year. Santa Maria and Oxnard counted the largest increases in acreage planted with 583 and 317 acres respectively.
The Watsonville-Salinas district continues to be the largest-producing area with 12,773 acres planted in the fall.
California strawberry acreage to be planted in the summer, which produces during the fall season, is projected to decrease by 528 acres, or 10 percent, in 2007. Most of the projected summer planted acreage is located in Oxnard and Santa Maria, but these districts projected decreases of 350 and 68 acres, respectively, compared with 2006. Orange County-San Diego reported no acreage planted. Projected summer planted acreage for 2007 was 14 percent of the state total as compared with 16 percent in 2006.
Oxnard reported a 0.3 percent acreage increase from 2006. The Camarosa variety continues to decrease, now comprising 12 percent of the district's acreage. This is being offset with plantings of the Ventana and proprietary varieties. Proprietary varieties dominate the district with 6,843 acres, a decrease of 142 acres from the previous year. Ventana is the second-largest variety planted, accounting for 3,506 acres. Other varieties have decreased 144 acres, or -43 percent, as compared with 2006. For the first time in the district, four acres of Albion have been planted.
The Orange County area remains the primary location for acreage in the Southern District at 1,155 acres despite decreasing from last year's total of 1,301 acres. This decrease is due to land development and rising property costs in the area. Additionally, San Diego area acreage decreased to 294 acres from the previous year. Coachella reported 304 acres, an increase of 29 acres from 2006.
Ventana remains the top variety in the district, despite a decrease of 231 acres from 1,036 acres last year. These districts show that the Camarosa variety has also decreased from 718 acres in 2006 to 665 acres in 2007. Proprietary varieties represented 5 percent of the district in 2006 and increased to 16 percent in 2007. Albion represents less than 1 percent, with other varieties accounting for 1 percent.
(For more on the California strawberry deal, see the March 26 issue of The Produce News.)
