WATSONVILLE, CA - As produce departments fill with the latest fruit and vegetables of the season, Well-Pict Berries is welcoming its first year of production on two new proprietary strawberry varieties. The 9271 and 3108 varieties are exclusive to Well-Pict’s Watsonville, California growing operations and are presenting excellent quality and consistent supply as the harvest continues through the summer.
"These two new proprietary strawberries offer high flavor profiles, light and fresh berry aroma as well as large berry size with a firm conical shape and large shoulders. Great skin integrity and color make them a great item for produce departments,” Dan Crowley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, tells us.
Typically, Well-Pict’s Watsonville harvest winds down around October when the shorter days take over from the dog days of summer and inclement weather comes over the horizon. At this point, the company transitions to Oxnard where it will be harvesting its Fall crop proprietary 4053 strawberry. But, stay tuned for a twist.
“For Well-Pict’s Spring crop, variety 269 has really been our tried-and-true workhorse variety and as we continue to invest in R&D. Next year, we will be introducing two new proprietary varieties to Oxnard. The 324 and 3024 include the same high flavor profiles and are very complimentary to each other. Variety 324 comes in early and paves the way for 3204,” Dan notes.
Next year, the company plans to have a 100% split in acreage throughout its Oxnard operations.
Well-Pict’s variety development begins with choosing the perfect “parent” plants. Tens of thousands of unique seedlings are evaluated each year as the company searches for the finest in flavor and size, color and shine, and even the best in performing against pests and disease. New varieties are “fingerprinted” and patented for future identification. Over a four-year period, a single seedling becomes millions of identical disease-free plants.
For more than 40 years, Well-Pict and its partner farms have been overseen by knowledgeable growers who employ only expertly trained field crews and the latest technologies.
Congrats, Well-Pict, on your newest additions to the berry category!
