Market Update For Berries

Oxnard and Santa Maria growers with short day varieties have sent most of their remaining fruit to the freezer. Rejections have been on the rise, so the freezer has become a very safe option. We won’t see peak production from Watsonville/Salinas for another week or two and we saw many of the biggest shippers clean up last weekend and take their spot market back to $12.00 FOB. Santa Maria quality is now improving, and growers are welcoming the opportunity to support 4th of July promotions. With the northern volumes increasing, retailers can promote with confidence. Strawberries have headlined most retail ads in May and early June, so it is possible that they get left out for the 4th. If that happens, the spot market could feel some stress. Currently, the spot ranges from $10.00 to $12.00, with the mostly market at $12.00 FOB. Expect these prices to hold for the next two weeks.