Berries: strawberries shaky, raspberries up

California strawberry shoppers are getting a rougher spring, with rain and sudden heat in Santa Cruz County knocking fruit quality out of line. (ucanr.edu) UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Mark Bolda told KSBW that he measured 1.5 inches of rain over two days, and said berries usually start breaking down after about half an inch. He said the damage includes mold and fruit splitting as water moves into the sugar-rich berries. (ucanr.edu) California Giant Berry Farms said Watsonville and Salinas growers got about 2 inches of rain last week, then made at least one cleanup pass before returning to harvest. The company said fields back in production are still showing elevated cull rates, meaning more berries are being discarded before packing. (calgiant.com) That leaves stores and distributors with a narrower window for good strawberries just as multiple regions overlap in the market. Bolda said Santa Cruz County fruit was ripening at the same time as Oxnard, Baja California and Santa Maria, after a period of heavy production had already pushed prices low. (ucanr.edu) Produce distributor Pro*Act said on April 22 that rain across all strawberry regions had slowed harvest, reduced fill rates and made order cuts likely. The same market update said strawberries remained short as growing regions transition, while prices stayed high. (proactusa.com) Raspberries are setting up differently. FreshPlaza reported on April 22 that California’s summer raspberry crop is expected to exceed last year’s production, with North Bay Produce targeting a start around May 15 and saying the season could begin slightly early after March heat. (freshplaza.com) That stronger raspberry outlook follows a bigger U.S. trend. USDA data cited by Growing Produce showed 2024 raspberry production reached 181 million pounds, up 27% from 2023 in comparable states, with harvested acreage up 3% to 16,800 acres. (growingproduce.com) Labor is still the common risk across both crops. American Ag Network reported on April 22 that the Western Growers Association still sees labor as a top concern for California fruit and vegetable producers, while the H-2A guest worker program remains expensive and complicated for many farms. (americanagnetwork.com) That matters most at harvest, when berries have to be picked fast and handled gently. American Ag Network said mechanization offers limited help for delicate crops, and FreshPlaza said labor availability is one of the main variables that will shape raspberry pricing this summer. (americanagnetwork.com, freshplaza.com) So the near-term berry aisle looks split: strawberries face weather damage and uneven packs now, while raspberries look better supplied by mid-May if crews and weather cooperate. (proactusa.com, freshplaza.com)