The California strawberry 2016 processing crop through the week ending
March 12 has had more fruit delivered year to date in the juice grade
category than in the previous five years. The volume received last week
accounts for half of the volume received so far this year. The expected
volume for the current week will be still high, but not as high as last
week when growers were recovering from the rain. The fresh market has
remained weak again in the current period as well. It is not as strong
as is typical for just prior to the Easter holiday. It remains to be
seen what will happen to the markets after the Easter holiday passes.