While the supply of strawberries from California is readily available at the moment, there are quality concerns. "We've been through a very warm spell in central California from September 27 - October 8. I've never seen so many consistently warm hot days," says Steve Johnston of G.W. Palmer & Co. Inc.
In Salinas-Watsonville, the heat has impacted production and the berries are smaller and not as strong. "It's just not a really good berry right now for the most part," says Johnston. "The heat has just taken its toll on the fruit."
In Santa Maria and Oxnard, the summer-planted fruit has stronger production. "Though a lot of the shippers are picking on the lighter side because if they let the fruit ripen up as normal, the berries will be too soft. However the thing about berries is if you have a week of cool weather, they'll bounce right back,'' he says.
Softer strawberry demand
How about demand? "I think the consumer is telling us what the berries are really like," says Johnston, adding that late September-October is also generally not a time for strong demand for strawberries. He also adds that weather events in the southeast–namely Hurricanes Helene and Milton–have also impacted demand.
Meanwhile, in Florida, there are some reports of plantings being impacted by Hurricane Milton. "However they still have plenty of time if they want to replant. They usually start around late December," says Johnston. "They can bounce back though it's a shame for the growers to pay to clean up the fields and replant because it's so expensive to grow strawberries."
In Mexico, strawberry harvest will start in a very light way next week in central Mexico.
All of this is leaving the market for strawberries weak at the moment. "Last year as we got into late October, the market went up a little bit but this time around, it could go either way," says Johnston.
For more information:
Steve Johnston
G.W. Palmer & Co., Inc.
Tel: +1 (831) 753-6578
[email protected]
http://www.gwpalmer.net/