Statewide Strawberry Update
It’s hard to believe July 4th is already next week, but there is plenty of promotable strawberry volume to support the holiday demand. The Strawberry Commission Pink sheet currently shows the cumulative statewide strawberry volume is still tracking well ahead of the previous two years. However, we did see the weekly volume dip below 8 million trays of fresh strawberries last week for the first time since April. The industry is forecasting that volume should plateau for the next couple of weeks before beginning to slow a little.
Bobalu Crop Update
Our fruit on the west side of Santa Maria is going strong and volume will remain consistent as we move into July. We are seeing nice color, sizing, and flavor from our ranches here along the coast as we stick to a regular rotation to ensure best quality. We appreciate the retail support we have received here this summer.
As we continue to harvest our spring crop, we have staff working hard on the next crop that is already planted for our fall season that should begin some time in August. As in past seasons, we will transition here in Santa Maria first as we approach fall, then Oxnard will follow with a fall crop as well.
Scholarships Awarded!
2024 marks the third year of our scholarship program established on our 60th anniversary. This year we awarded 14 scholarships to students from Oxnard and Santa Maria, and we had the opportunity to award one to a child of one of our employees. We are thrilled at the caliber of students applying for this program each year, with all being the first in their family to attend college.
As of 2024, we have awarded a total of 44 scholarships to graduating high school seniors attending colleges and universities throughout the U.S.
