California Giant Berry Farms shares a strong outlook for the upcoming Pacific Northwest blueberry season. The company is forecasting increased volumes of both conventional and organic-grown blueberries from this key region.
Looking ahead, the company is excited to announce the staggered start of the blueberry seasons in Oregon, British Columbia, and Eastern Washington. This strategic approach ensures a seamless and ample supply of delicious blueberries for customers through early September, guaranteeing a strong and continuous flow throughout the summer months.
© California Giant Berry Farms"We're very pleased with the current blueberry season and the anticipated strong volumes from our Northern growing regions," shared Tim Youmans, Vice President of Sales at California Giant Berry Farms. "Our focus remains on providing a year-round supply of the highest quality blueberries. The upcoming harvests will allow us to maintain excellent availability for our retail and foodservice partners, and ultimately, for consumers."
To ensure optimum quality, California Giant will be shipping directly from grower locations and from its state-of-the-art Unitec sorting line at the Santa Maria facility. This advanced technology meticulously sorts blueberries for color, firmness, size, and other quality indicators, ensuring that only the highest-quality berries are packaged into each clamshell. The Santa Maria pack house also serves as a central hub for California Giant's growers and outside suppliers, offering co-packing assistance and reinforcing the company's commitment to supporting its industry partners.
© California Giant Berry Farms
This strong supply outlook comes at a time when jumbo blueberries are experiencing rapid growth within the berry category, reflecting evolving consumer preferences. Nielsen data shows double-digit growth in both dollar sales and pounds compared to the previous year, with jumbo blueberries also increasing their dollar share of the total blueberry category.
California Giant is well-positioned to meet this demand with its GIANT Blueberries, boasting impressive size and superior flavor. These premium berries are available in good volume from March through August.
The growing consumer appetite for blueberries is clear, with 54% of surveyed consumers reporting a purchase in the past 12 months. Recognizing there's significant room for further growth as more households embrace this healthy fruit, California Giant is dedicated to supporting retailer and foodservice partners in expanding this penetration and offers customized retail support to help drive sales and consumer engagement. To further fuel consumption, California Giant actively utilizes Instacart marketing and robust consumer marketing campaigns, focusing on the craveability and versatile appeal of fresh berries.
Contact:
Kelley Sablan
California Giant Berry Farms
Tel: (831)744-6634
[email protected]
www.calgiant.com
