TRAVERSE CITY, MI - North Bay Produce’s Mexico- and Florida-grown strawberries—including long-stem and organic—are ripe for the picking this Valentine’s Day. To gain insights on what retailers can expect from these luscious crops, I got in touch with Sarah Quackenbush, Sales Manager.

“We are carrying long-stem strawberries specifically for the holiday, and assuring that we have supply on all packs from multiple growing regions to satisfy demand and keep displays full,” Sarah began telling me.

She went on to note that one of the best places to merchandise strawberries for the holiday is—yep, you guessed it—a fully stocked berry patch!

“Blackberries and blueberries especially will look great side-by-side with the red, juicy strawberries. In addition, having other treats to complement the berries helps consumers create a romantic spread—think chocolate, champagne, and charcuterie,” Sarah added.

Lucky for consumers who will be hooked on strawberries long after Valentine’s Day, North Bay will have the supplies to continue meeting demand.

“We will continue to have a good supply of North Bay strawberries beyond Valentine's Day, so keep pushing after the holiday!” Sarah said directly to the buy-side. “The way this growing season has gone, our projections show very strong volumes of strawberries from Valentine’s through April 1, so we hope retailers will keep that in mind and talk with North Bay about how we can help promote them. Also, the month of March represents a great opportunity to continue to delight customers with our premium Erandy blackberries, which have great size, flavor, and color.”

Berries are a year-round treat here in the United States, and Valentine’s Day is just one opportunity to make them truly shine in the produce aisle. Stay tuned as we bring you more merchandising insights.