Watsonville, CA-based Santa Cruz Berry Farming Co. has a year under its belt and is poised for continued growth as it strives to be a supplier of California strawberries 365 days a year.

Longtime veteran berry grower, and owner and founder of the operation, Fritz Koontz, said that the company had to learn many different things when it opened its doors in February of 2011.

Sambrailo’s top seller is the one-pound clamshell.

Headquartered in the middle of the Watsonville, CA, strawberry growing district, Sambra

Greg Ganzerla

With a product that promises increased shelf life at much less the cost of other modified-atmosphere alternatives, Peakfresh

John King in a Baja strawberry field.

Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, which grows strawberries year round in several districts in Califor

Over the years, more and more strawberry shippers have diversified their operations by offering berries year round or at least from several different districts. However, that is not the case for Watsonville, CA-based Sweet Darling Sales Inc., which offers its berries under that same brand name.

“That’s up for debate,” said Matt Biscotti, director of sales for the firm. “Some companies think it’s important to be year round but not my owner. He says he does it best here and this is where he wants to concentrate his efforts.”

Carl (Sam) Gabriel, Caleb Randall, Sandra Malatesta and Louis Ivanovich, who handle sales at West Lake Fresh.

When a company is