In early February , farm workers began arriving at the parking lot from the strawberry field for lunch at Parkesdale Farms, Dover, Fla.

Walking through the parking lot, grower Matt Parke said he was bracing for a frost that night during a growing season that has had cool weather for an unusually long time, producing thick, high-quality, high-sugar berries. but with a volume of about half that of the same time last year.

Berry growers in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina are grappling with weather, regulations, labor costs, and import competition as they blast into their peak season.

“Now I have berries the size of my hand, and my hand is quite big. They're out there trying to mature and it's taking forever and a day, ”Parke said. “We haven't passed 80 (degrees Fahrenheit) in a month. If it stays that way, cold, hopefully the market will prevail. "

On February 12, just before Valentine's Day, demand for strawberries in Central Florida outpaced supply and the market was stable, ranging from $ 16-18,90 for flat packs of eight 1-pound lids. According to the US Department of Agriculture, organic products from the region cost between $ 30 and $ 32.

Demand was quite good with a stable market for strawberries from Mexico crossings through Otay Mesa, at $ 16-18 for flats, although most shipments were from previous commitments because the harvest was limited by rain and wet fields and quality varied greatly, according to the USDA.

The cool weather has kept strawberries on the plant longer, making them sweeter and bigger, some even as big as the hand of Parkesdale Farms of Dover, Florida grower Matt Parke. (Photo courtesy of Matt Parke of Parkesdale Farms)

Strawberries from Oxnard, California saw similar weather conditions on February 12, with a fairly light supply and prices of $ 18-22 for conventional and $ 26-28 for organic.

For that same time last year, demand for Central Florida strawberries was "pretty good at much lower prices," ranging from $10,90 to $14,90 with most shipments from previous commitments, according to the USDA. . Organics were in the $32.90-36.90 range, the market for conventionals was much lower while organics were flat.

For the crossings from Mexico through Otay Mesa, the conventional cost between $ 16-18 and the organic between $ 26-32. For Oxnard, it was $ 16-18.

Parkesdale Farms began harvesting in November and will continue through March, possibly April.

That day, in early February, Parkesdale Farms field workers picked long-stemmed fruit for Valentine's Day, as well as regular berries for the pound shells. Parke expected to supply retailers between 75.000 and 100.000 long-stem flats.

Bobalu Berry Farms, based in Oxnard, California, sources some Florida strawberries early in the season, said Cindy Jewell, who runs the company's marketing program.

Heavy rains and high winds in Northern California decreased the supply of strawberries for Valentine's promotions and the use of alternative sources did not fully restore the lower volume, he said.

Wish Farms, Plant City, Florida, has also experienced cold weather and lower volume issues for its Florida strawberries, said Nick Wishnatzki, public relations manager. However, the quality is excellent. The company is a year-round supplier of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, sourcing from South America to Canada.

The Sweet Sensation strawberry remains the preferred variety at Wish Farms for its taste, size and aroma, Wishnatzki said.

Both Parke and Wishnatzki have planted a few acres of a white strawberry, Pink-A-Boo pineapples, which have a pineapple-like hint of sweetness. Based on the excitement around these pale specialties, they hope to increase acreage next year.

“Judging by the general buzz we are hearing from consumers and customers, we are very optimistic about its future prospects,” Wishnatzki said. “Shoppers are always looking for something new and exciting in the product aisle. In the berry category specifically, there is a lot of room for growth and diversification.”

Blueberries, blackberries

Blueberries have been doing a bit better lately, said Chris Barnhill, owner of Blueberry Hill Farms, Ivanhoe, NC, and CEO of the US Highbush Blueberry Council.

“Many hours of cold and a lot of humidity on the ground. Temperatures are normal for variety. We haven't seen this kind of weather in the last four years, ”Barnhill said. The sprout set looks good, he said.

The Southeast will pump the blue orbs in spring and midsummer, with the blueberry season from Florida March through May, April through June for Georgia, and May through July from North Carolina.

There is a lot of competition during that period, mainly from California, Chile, Mexico and Peru.

But on February 11, the US International Trade Commission determined that the volumes of imported blueberries are not high enough to cause "substantial cause of serious injury or threat of serious injury" to US growers.

The determination was made after an investigation was launched on September 29 at the request of the United States Trade Representative. The details of the commission's report will be open to the public sometime after March 29, when it is delivered to President Joe Biden.

Al Finch, president of Florida Classic Growers, Dundee, Florida, is one of several growers who disagrees with that conclusion, specifically on Mexican competition.

“Every year more pounds cross the border. They are really becoming a threat to Florida blueberry growers, ”Finch said.

Previously, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried had testified before the commission that Mexico's blueberry market share had soared 2,100% since 2009, while Florida's market share decreased 38% from 2015 , which, he said, indicates serious economic damage.

Regardless, Florida's blueberry production outlook for 2021 is good, with no major weather events thus far in mid-February, said Brittany Lee, vice president and farm manager, Florida Blue Farms, Gainesville, Florida. She is also the executive director of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association and an alternate member of the Florida Growers Council of the US Highbush Blueberry Council.

“We had a fair amount of cold at the right time, so I would expect one of our best years,” Lee said.

Demand for blueberries has been growing in recent years, and even more so since the pandemic has put an increased interest in antioxidants and other immunity-boosting benefits of berries, Finch said.

Chile should end its blueberry season earlier than normal, creating a gap, as Central Florida blueberries can start about a week later than normal, unless Mexican blueberries are incorporated.

Crystal Valley Foods, Miami, expects to begin shipping blueberries from Georgia in late April and blackberries from Georgia in early June, said Katiana Valdes, director of marketing and business development.

The company will then source Alabama blueberries in late June.

"There has been colder than normal weather in the region, so we expect Georgia to start a week or two later than in previous years," Valdes said.