With spring approaching, it looks as though the Florida strawberry harvest has passed its peak. Growers however, say volumes are still plentiful and there is at least a month left before the season concludes. It's been a tough strawberry season for much of the country, with weather playing its part to keep production down. Florida is no exception, having endured consistently cool conditions from the beginning of the season.
"The Florida season started back in November and it looks as though it will last through March or possibly the first week in April," said Josh Griffin of Grimes Produce Company in Plant City. "We are past the peak of the season but there is still good volume coming out of Florida."
"It's been a historically low season in terms of production," he continued. "From the start of the season right through until about February 10, we were very low on volume compared to previous years. Then in the middle of February, it warmed up and all that fruit that had been sizing up for weeks came on which resulted in an overabundance. Now it's turning around again with cooler weather forecast into next week, with lows in the 30s on their way. This will be beneficial though because the berries will gain size and the quality will strengthen during this cool period."
Market moving accordingly
The market was under pressure for several months as the cool weather in Florida and rains in California hindered strawberry production. Additionally, the tight supply situation extended all the way up until Valentine's Day - the biggest holiday for strawberries. As a result, prices were high for an extended period. After Valentine's Day however, demand softened and production improved, leading to a drop in the market. Coming into March, the market is reversing into a stronger position once again.
"We were in a $16 market right up until February 10," Griffin explained. "It was a tight market and then we had a glut of strawberries which brought the market down to $6 - $8. Now as we approach the weekend, prices are back up to $12 and later into next week we expect them to climb up again towards $14. After Valentine's Day, we entered a period of weaker demand and now we are returning to a tight supply situation once more. We're hoping to finish on a strong market."
More acreage for 'Brilliance' variety
With the new 'Brilliance' strawberry variety entering commercial production in Florida this year, growers are experiencing overall good results. The variety, which was introduced by researchers at the University of Florida, has been specifically bred with Florida's conditions in mind. According to Griffin, the company will be increasing their acreage of Brilliance next year due to the positive outcomes they have seen.
"It's still in the early stages, but so far we are very happy with the way the 'Brilliance' is performing," he shared. "Grimes Produce Company introduced it this season and we will be looking to increase our acreage of it for next season."
For more information:
Josh Griffin
Grimes Produce Company, LLC
Ph: +1 (813) 707-8813
[email protected]