For the second year in a row, Oregon blueberries are going to start harvest earlier than usual. Harvest begins in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with the popular Duke variety set to begin around June 6. A warm spring combined with ideal growing conditions has Curry & Company estimating that promotional volume will be available the week of June 13. Curry & Company’s season will continue until September.
According to company President Matt Curry, “We are alerting all of our blueberry partners to be ready to start promoting when the season begins. There is a great crop on the bushes and we’re excited for the season.”
During the peak of the season, Curry & Company will pack primarily in 6oz, pint, 18oz and 2# clamshells. The larger size packages will be available from the first day of the season, until volumes start slowing down in late July when production will focus on the 6oz clamshell.
Curry & Company is also repeating their successful ‘local’ program they launched in 2015 to the Pacific Northwest. The program featured a rotating set of labels focused on local that were placed on clamshells.
“The Northwest retailers really liked our local program,” said Curry. “It gave them a great opportunity to celebrate and promote one of the delicious produce items that is grown in their back yard. We were even able to have a grower go out to some stores to help demo product.”
The state of Oregon is one of the largest blueberry producing states in the U.S. and is the largest producing state on the West Coast. Other leading states include Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, California and Washington.
Curry & Company’s export program continues to grow as well. According to their export director, Boriz Manz, there is strong demand. “We had a strong Chilean blueberry season, and the momentum is carrying over to our domestic product. The outstanding growing season and the anticipated larger than normal volumes and large sized blueberries are creating a lot of excitement, “ stated Manz.
Curry & Company blueberries are packed and shipped from their warehouse in Brooks, OR and from their Los Angeles warehouse.
