Peaches from Florida tuck nicely in between other domestic and imported peach seasons. “What’s nice about the season is we start typically sometime in the middle of March as Chile finishes their program and we’ll run into May when California, Georgia and South Carolina begin their programs,” says Finch. “We fill a void in the marketplace.”
Strong demand for peaches
Demand for these “ready-to-eat” peaches also looks strong. “We started this program eight years ago and it’s gained so much traction that we’ve expanded it,” says Finch. “We’re sending peaches as far north as Canada and as far west as Kansas.” The peaches are marketed as ready-to-eat, as Finch adds, they can be eaten right off the tree in the orchard and are harvested only when they are ripe and ready to eat.
“Sizing on the peaches range from as small as a 2 1/8 inch to a little more than a 2 ½ inch in diameter” Finch says. “The peak of the crop is in the 2 ¼ to 2 3/8 range.” Florida Classic is offering two packaging types for its customers: For our retail partners, we’re offering an 8 lb, single-layer tray. For our food service and school business, we’re promoting the peaches in a 20 lb volume-fill box.
Pricing looks steady
With solid demand and supply, that leaves prices for Florida peaches steady and similar to last season’s pricing. “We look to have good volume through the month of April. We anticipate over the next few weeks we will basically be reaching our peak volume,” says Finch. “Once we get into May, we’ll be tapering off and we’ll look to finish our peach season in mid-May.”
“Sizing on the peaches range from as small as a 2 1/8 inch to a little more than a 2 ½ inch in diameter” Finch says. “The peak of the crop is in the 2 ¼ to 2 3/8 range.” Florida Classic is offering two packaging types for its customers: For our retail partners, we’re offering an 8 lb, single-layer tray. For our food service and school business, we’re promoting the peaches in a 20 lb volume-fill box.
Pricing looks steady
With solid demand and supply, that leaves prices for Florida peaches steady and similar to last season’s pricing. “We look to have good volume through the month of April. We anticipate over the next few weeks we will basically be reaching our peak volume,” says Finch. “Once we get into May, we’ll be tapering off and we’ll look to finish our peach season in mid-May.”
For more information:
Al Finch
Florida Classic Growers
Tel: +1-863.438.2209
al.finch@flclassic.com
www.flclassic.com
Al Finch
Florida Classic Growers
Tel: +1-863.438.2209
al.finch@flclassic.com
www.flclassic.com