Statewide Strawberry Update
The Strawberry Commission reports show total strawberry volume for the state seeing a slight decline each week as the spring crop slows and summer planted crop ramps up. Even with the addition of the fall crop, total weekly numbers are slightly below previous years at this time. Some of that might be attributed to some later planting dates of the summer crop in some areas.
Total statewide volume for the week ending 8/3 was 6.4 million trays, then week ending 8/10 dropped to just about 6 million trays. While that number is below the same time last year, total cumulative volume in California is 25 million trays ahead of the same time last year. Current acreage estimates for the fall crop are higher than last year, so there is plenty of fruit ahead for fall and holiday promotions.
Bobalu Crop Update
Our fall crop is coming on in Santa Maria. We are seeing a steady increase in daily and weekly strawberry volume and should see numbers peak by the 3rd week in September. Our peak should take us well into October, just in time for the Oxnard fall crop to kick in and keep volume steady into the holiday season ahead.
Our Santa Maria fields are all on the coast, so the weather has been perfect with foggy mornings and mild sunny afternoons. The 10 day forecast shows much more of the same mild conditions which is keeping our forecast on track with the plants looking very healthy and loaded with bloom and fruit in all stages of color. We do have ground committed to the new Salma day neutral variety, and look forward to seeing how it is received by our shoppers to consider acreage expansion in future years.
