California strawberry processing continues at a high rate this week after a very large week last week. The volume of #1 grade fruit has dropped a little from the previous weeks, but it still continues to be above the volume of the last five years. With that, the total annual volume is also the highest now it has been in the past five years, but processors still seem willing to receive more fruit. The fruit supply from the Oxnard district will continue to diminish week to week now as growers prepare for next year. The Santa Maria district has another month until they begin to turn ground around for next season.
The juice stock supply hit a record for volume for the month of July last week. Last week was the second largest week for juice stock in the past five years. The volume generated came as a result of a poor fresh market. Growers were having to harvest their fruit for juice stock in the Watsonville / Salinas area in large volume because the market for fresh fruit was very poor following the 4th of July marketing period.
