“It’s steady with good quality,” says Jay Rodriguez of Miami, Fl.-based Crystal Valley Foods. “We anticipate greater blueberry volume than last year, weather permitting. And the quality is great right now. The blueberries are looking plump, firm and sweet. And we expect a continued steady supply with good quality fruit.”
During the offshore season, Crystal Valley sources its blueberries from Chile, Argentina, Peru and Mexico. “And with the large and concentrated population, demand in the Northeast is the strongest right now for blueberries.”
Blueberries on the rise?
Meanwhile with strong demand and strong supply, pricing is similar to what it was at this time last year,” says Rodriguez.
And that strong demand is a trend Rodriguez sees possibly continuing to increase given the trajectory blueberries has seen in recent years. “Berries have long been a prominent category in the produce department and over the last twenty years, they have experienced one of the highest rates of consumption growth of all fruit and vegetables,” he says. “The advancements in shipping, growing, and packaging, as well as better taste profiles and consumer awareness of the health benefits of berries have helped sales and volume increase in this category and we expect consumption to continue to be strong.”
For more information:
Jay Rodriguez
Crystal Valley Foods
Tel: +1-305-591-6567
jay@crystalvalleyfoods.com
www.crystalvalleyfoods.com
And that strong demand is a trend Rodriguez sees possibly continuing to increase given the trajectory blueberries has seen in recent years. “Berries have long been a prominent category in the produce department and over the last twenty years, they have experienced one of the highest rates of consumption growth of all fruit and vegetables,” he says. “The advancements in shipping, growing, and packaging, as well as better taste profiles and consumer awareness of the health benefits of berries have helped sales and volume increase in this category and we expect consumption to continue to be strong.”
For more information:
Jay Rodriguez
Crystal Valley Foods
Tel: +1-305-591-6567
jay@crystalvalleyfoods.com
www.crystalvalleyfoods.com