OXNARD, CA - Torrential downpours and snow flurries have wreaked havoc across the country, and this is especially felt by growers. One Californian supplier affected by the adverse weather is Bobalu. Even with the flooding of its Watsonville and Salinas acreage, the berry grower is coming out smiling.
“We are keeping our fields clean and as dry as possible while looking ahead at a long strawberry season once this ongoing rainy weather pattern decides to move on,” the company stated in its weekly update. “The whole state is tracking about a month behind normal strawberry volume. The good news is, as the days continue to get longer with the first day of Spring arriving (hopefully) Monday, March 20, and temperatures warm up, our plants will rebound and volume will increase.”
In Oxnard, Bobalu is continuing to harvest as the rain dissipates and taking account of the damage with lost fruit. Volumes are expected to be tight as we get further into March and April. Bobalu noted it is currently 3–4 weeks behind its normal peak season pattern, so fresh berries will be plentiful well beyond Mother’s Day this year.
Bobalu’s Coachella region received less rain than Oxnard and Salinas, but the cooler temperatures have kept weekly volume increases at a much slower pace than usual. However, both the fields and fruit are looking great, and this southern region will help with Bobalu’s overall early volume out of California.
The Santa Maria season is also behind by a month, but the plants are looking healthy.
Check out the full update from the grower here.
