After a difficult January due to weather, we see trading return to normal and prices much higher than last year across all categories. Weather looks like it will continue to be an issue with warmer maximum and minimum temperatures vs historical medians. So, conditions for harvesting should improve for crops grown outside. But there will be nuanced issues for each growing region for different berry types. 

What’s happening in the Berry Category? 

Blueberries – Volumes have dropped back significantly week on week in Blueberries, with a majority of growers at the end of their season. Whilst we expect volume to drop away over this period, we have seen a more significant drop in production due to multiple days where outside crops on the Coffs Coast could not be harvested. We expect the New Zealand volume to start appearing at the back end of the week, and this will hold the category down in the short term. Once they enter the market, we can expect split pricing from some retailers, and the preference will be for Australian production. Premium production with Southern Growers will also end in the coming weeks when they will change into Northern Highbush or Hybrids (SHB x NHB). 

Strawberries – Volume will continue to be steady in the next few weeks out of Tasmania; however, volume out of VIC and SA will continue to pull back. Combine this with back to school, and we expect prices to push up over the next 7 to 10 days. WA is expected to increase in volume in the coming week. WA will come into their higher production period across February, but we expect there to be less fruit coming across as there will be more value to be found for growers on the East Coast in the coming few weeks. 

Raspberries – Raspberries have found their summer lull, with production in Northern NSW and VIC yet to ramp back up again. We expect this to start in Feb and build back up at the backend of the month with solid volume in March through to June. 

Blackberries – Volume has been consistent week on week, but we are a few weeks away from seeing some larger volumes. The next 2 weeks were the peak of the summer for Blackberries. However, we are not expecting the same velocity that we saw last year.