December 31, 2011 numbers are in and according to the USDA most IQF fruits are in greater supply than last year at this time.
Some highlights as of 12/31/11:
Blackberries - There are almost 3 million more IQF blackberries in cold storage than December 31, 2010. IQF blackberry pricing is stable due to good demand. Pricing should sink a little because Chile is about to harvest and Mexico has been packing off the fresh market for a few months.
Blueberries - There are over 21 million more pounds of frozen blueberries in cold storage than December 31, 2010. Frozen blueberries have only one direction to go. In hindsight, high pack time field pricing in Michigan and the Pacific Northwest, may have been detrimental to long term pricing. The only curve ball could be that strong sales in the fresh market could take away most of the volume from Chile.
Raspberries - There are over 7 million more pounds of IQF raspberries in cold storage than December 31, 2010. IQF raspberry pricing from Chile have sunk to unsustainable low levels not seen in years. It could be a reaction to the oversupply in Europe.
Strawberries - There are over 14 million more pounds of IQF strawberrries in cold storage than December 31, 2010. IQF medium strawberries are in short supply from California, IQF large whole strawberries are long. Mexican strawberry pricing has to soften a little unless you need a custom pack.
Click on link for USDA's Cold Storage Report released January 20, 2012.
Volume is way up for fresh strawberries for this early in the year. Click this link for the California Strawberry Commission Pink Sheet for January 21, 2012.
Although the year has only begun and most harvesting has not started, Carolyn O'Donnell, Communications Director for the California Strawberry Commission notes California's strawberry production is already ahead of last year's numbers.
In 2005, an exciting collaboration was set up between Hargreaves Plants and Prof. John R Clark at the University of Arkansas to breed new and super sweet varieties of blackberries to launch into the commercial and gardening sector. They now have trials sites in both the UK and USA with over 250 seedling selections being tested.
Click on this link to read about the new super sweet blackberry.
