Wish Farms, grower-shipper and year-round supplier of strawberries and blueberries, expects its upcoming Argentina blueberry program to double in volume over last season.

The Argentina blueberry season will span from the beginning of October to the end of November and will segue perfectly into what should be another strong Chilean season for Wish Farms. Although there will be a light trickle of fruit beginning in early September, the first significant volume out of Argentina will be around the first week of October.

“Our blueberry team continues to focus on steady, controlled growth,” Teddy Koukoulis, director of blueberry operations of Wish Farms, said in a press release. “This season, our new partnership with a significant grower, helps solidify our Argentina program and stabilize volume for our customers.”

Wish Farms estimates it will be marketing close to 1.5 million pounds of Argentinean blueberries, much of which is grown under hoops providing protection from inclement weather.

“The majority of our Argentina crop will be grown under tunnels, providing cover and protection from weather elements such as rain, frost and hail,” JC Clinard, executive vice president of Wish Farms, added in the press release. “Rain can cause a serious interruption to the Argentina blueberry harvest. The hoops protect us in these circumstances and ensure our customers have a consistent supply of quality berries.”

Leading up to the season, weather in Argentina has been very favorable with adequate chill hours and no harsh weather events. As a result, fruit quality and volume is expected to be excellent.

08/19/2015

The Produce News