C & D Fruit & Vegetable Co. of Bradenton, FL, has high-quality Florida strawberries in abundance, and they will be a bargain for consumers this year, said Tom O’Brien, president of the company. The only thing in question is if the market will remain solid enough to sustain growers.

Mr. O’Brien is one of a growing number of Florida berry farmers who worry that the state and other growing regions are producing too much product.

In mid-December, Nelly Yunta, vice president of U.S. imports, customs brokerage and consulting for Customized Brokers, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s logistics group, told The Produce News that the company was clearing major volumes of blueberries and cherries.

“Demand from the U.S. fresh market for Chilean blueberries has been strong up to this point,” Julia Inestroza, marketing and merchandising manager for Gourmet Trading, headquartered in Los Angeles, told The Produce News in mid-December. “We are seeing a shift of more fruit going to the processed market which could impact the latter part of the season’s supply. Overall, however, we are looking forward to a strong Chilean season.”

Frank Ramos, a partner with his wife, Ana, in The Perishable Specialist Inc., in Miami, told The Produce News in an e-mail Dec. 29 that the company was currently clearing blueberries, raspberries, currants, cherries and peaches from Chile.

“We are being told to expect a gradual increase of fruit [from Chile],” said Mr. Ramos. “There are really always increases. Seldom do we hear from exporters or importers that volumes will decrease.”

Jay Krichmar, president of Krichmar Produce Co. Inc. in Vineland, NJ, told The Produce News that volumes of Chilean fruit entering the United States via Northeastern ports are expected to be about the same as last year.

“This is what I’m hearing regarding projections,” said Mr. Krichmar. “Much of how much product is sold to the U.S. depends on our dollar. The exchange rate influences where Chilean companies decide to sell their product, and option include Asia and Europe.”

“Blueberries and raspberries from Chile complement our blackberry program out of Guatemala and Mexico,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News. “Chile plays an especially important role in our year-round blueberry program. Southern Specialties offers its berries in our ‘Southern Selects’ labels as well as other labels.”

Mr. Eagle said the company is again increasing its Chilean blueberry volumes this year, and that all signs are that the quality of the berries is outstanding.