Contacting Driscoll’s
Growing Berries
Berry Care & Handling
Health and Nutrition
Food Safety & Packaging
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CONTACTING DRISCOLL’S
I would like to start sourcing berries from Driscoll’s. Who should I contact?
To better understand your berry needs please contact us at our toll free number of 866-793-7178 or email us. If you choose to email Driscoll’s please include:
- where your business is located
- what is the nature of your business
- approximately the volume of berries you are looking to source on a weekly/ yearly basis
We’ll be happy to assess your foodservice berry needs and help you find the right solution.
What types of berries does Driscoll’s offer?
Driscoll’s currently offers premium fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries along with organic berries. For detailed information by berry visit Our Berries section of the website or contact our foodservice sales team.
What pack sizes are available for foodservice customers?
To meet the needs of our foodservice customers, Driscoll’s offers an array of pack sizes for our fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, organic berries and specialty berries. For detailed information by berry visit Our Berries section of the website or contact our foodservice sales team.
GROWING BERRIES
Does Driscoll’s grow its own berries?
Driscoll’s partners with independent farmers to grow Driscoll’s unique varieties of berries. Many of Driscoll’s independent farmers have been growing for us for several decades and generations.
Where does Driscoll’s grow their berries?
The majority of Driscoll’s berries are grown in the United States, with California being the largest growing region. Other growing regions in the U.S. include Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, North and South Carolina and Florida. Outside the U.S. Driscoll’s independent farmers grow berries in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile,
Australia, and in a variety of European countries. The country of origin of all Driscoll’s berries is provided on our package labels.
What makes Driscoll’s berries “Only The Finest Berries®?”
For more than a century, the Driscoll’s family has been growing premium berries. Our Mission is to Continually Delight our Berry Consumers with only the sweetest, juiciest and most beautiful berries year round. If a berry doesn’t meet our standards of delight, it doesn’t get sold under the Driscoll’s brand.
How can I find out where the berries I purchased were grown?
Driscoll’s recognizes that our berry consumers want to know more about the food they purchase so each package lists the country of origin on the label and this year we are expanding our traceability program to provide our foodservice customers the ability to track their berry clamshell package back to the field where it was picked. click here to track your berries.
Does Driscoll’s offer organically grown berries?
Driscoll’s is the leading supplier of organic strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Driscoll’s organic berries are grown by independent farmers whose growing and handling operations are certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifying agency.
How are Driscoll’s berries harvested?
All our berries are hand-picked and field packed, with the exception of blueberries which are graded, sorted and sized to meet Driscoll’s maximum quality standards by our blueberry packers and growers.
BERRY CARE & HANDLING
What should I look for when selecting a perfect strawberry?
Driscoll’s strawberries are picked at its peak ripeness and do not continue to ripen after picking. When choosing strawberries look for:
- Symmetrically shaped berries
- A brilliant sheen and rich, even red color
- Fresh, unwilted green caps (calyx)
- Avoid strawberries with seedy tips or white shoulders
- For detailed information by berry visit Our Berries section of the website.
What should I look for when selecting a perfect raspberry?
When choosing raspberries look for:
- Look for plump, evenly colored berries that have a soft, hazy gloss and are free of dents and bruises.
- Raspberries have tiny hairs on them called “styles.” These are a completely natural part of the fruit’s defense mechanism and do not affect the taste or ripeness of the berries.
- For detailed information by berry visit Our Berries section of the website.
What should I look for when selecting a perfect blueberry?
When choosing blueberries look for:
- Berries that are dry, plump, round and free of dents and bruises.
- Blueberries should have a soft, hazy white coating, which is called “bloom.” Bloom is a completely natural part of the berries’ defense mechanism and helps protect them from the harsh rays of the sun.
- Avoid blueberries that are shriveled or lack bloom.
- For detailed information by berry visit Our Berries section of the website.
What should I look for when selecting a perfect blackberry? When choosing blackberries look for:
- Deep, evenly colored berries with a nice sheen.
- Berries that are plump and dry and free of dents or bruises.
- Blackberries range in color from deep blue/purple to deep purple/black. Blackberries are often two-tone in color, which is perfectly natural and does not affect ripeness.
- For detailed information by berry visit Our Berries section of the website.
Do berries need to be refrigerated?
All fresh berries are highly perishable and we recommend that you refrigerate them in their clamshell package at all times until eaten or used as an ingredient. Refrigeration will extend their freshness and shelf life.
What is the best way to store berries after I purchase them?
We recommend that you keep them in their clamshell package in the cooler until ready to use.
Do I need to wash berries before I use them?
As with all fresh produce we recommend that you wash the berries before using them. However, you should never wash your berries until just before you are ready to eat or use them as the moisture will decrease their shelf life.
Can I freeze fresh berries?
Yes, fresh berries can be easily frozen and enjoyed until you are ready to use them. Here are some helpful tips about freezing berries.
- Strawberries. Wash your strawberries carefully in cold water and pat dry. Remove the stems and any soft spots. Pack the berries into freezable containers, or freeze them on a baking sheet and then pack them into containers as soon as they are frozen. Seal the container and keep frozen until you are ready to use them.
- Raspberries and Blackberries. Raspberries and blackberries are very fragile and fresh raspberries are very sensitive to freeze damage. To freeze raspberries and blackberries rinse them gently in cool water then allow them to dry in a colander or on paper towels. Place a sheet of wax paper on a baking sheet then place the berries in the freezer. After the berries are frozen, pack them into sealed containers until you are ready to use them. By freezing the berries this way, they won’t stick to each other which allows you to easily measure out the needed amount once you are ready to use them.
- Blueberries. If you plan to freeze your blueberries, do not wash them before freezing as doing so will make the blueberry skins tough. Instead pack your blueberries into freezable containers, or freeze them on a baking sheet and then pack them into containers as soon as they are frozen. Seal the container and keep frozen until you are ready to use them. Be sure to wash the thawed blueberries prior to use.
Why are the insides of the strawberries white? Does it mean they are not ripe?
A white “core” in your strawberries is not an indication of ripeness. The internal pigment of strawberries ranges from white to bright red and is a characteristic of the berry plant variety and not of the berries’ ripeness or flavor.
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
What are the nutritional benefits and calories of berries?
Driscoll’s berries are some of the most delicious, nutritious, disease-fighting fruits you can eat. With their high antioxidant levels, berries are also considered “superfoods” because their health benefits may help the body fight off disease and slow the effects of aging. Berries are also high in vitamins and low in calories so they are a perfect fruit to include in your daily diet.
What are antioxidants? Why are they so important and are they found in berries?
Antioxidants are natural substances found in plants which are known to aid in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and strokes. They provide protection by neutralizing free radicals, which are substances that form when oxygen is burned by the body. Free radicals travel through cells, disrupting the structure of other molecules, causing cellular damage. This cell damage is believed to contribute to aging and various health problems. In addition to boosting your immune system, Antioxidants have been found to slow the effects of aging by improving memory, balance, coordination and motor skills. Berries are some of the most delicious and powerful disease-fighting foods available. Considered “superfoods,” antioxidant levels in berries are measured by their ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) Value. Driscoll's Blueberries top the charts followed by blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.
FOOD SAFETY AND PACKAGING
Does Driscoll’s have a Food Safety Program?
Driscoll’s has a stringent Global Food Safety program in place. Our Global Food Safety program ensures that our berries are produced with the highest standards of safety regardless of where they are produced. The farmers who produce Driscoll's berries must strictly adhere to our Food Safety program. To ensure compliance Driscoll’s conducts over 1,400 audits annually at fields, packing houses and coolers.
Does Driscoll’s add color or artificially enhance its berries?
No, Driscoll’s berries are naturally sweet, flavorful and beautiful looking. Driscoll’s Mission is to continually delight our berry consumers by providing “Only The finest Berries.” Our patented berry varieties come from years of breeding to naturally produce the best tasting berry for our foodservice customers.
Are Driscoll’s berries genetically modified?
No, Driscoll’s berries are not genetically modified. Driscoll’s Research and Development department is the industry leader in the development of premium berry plants that utilize only proven natural and traditional breeding process to create our superior berries.
Does Driscoll’s use pesticides?
Driscoll’s independent farmers avoid the use of synthetic materials, including pesticides, whenever possible. Any pesticide used must comply with federal and state laws. To reduce the use of pesticides Driscoll’s independent farmers have been the leaders in the practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which uses a combination
of natural and synthetic means to reduce disease and control pests.
Are any of Driscoll’s berries irradiated?
No, Driscoll’s does not use irradiation because we believe our harvest and cooling processes are highly effective in maintaining fruit quality and shelf life.
How do I know if berries grown outside the U.S. are safe to eat?
Driscoll’s has a stringent Global Food Safety program in place. Our Global Food Safety program ensures that our berries are produced with the highest standards of safety regardless of where they are produced. The farmers who produce Driscoll’s berries must strictly adhere to our Food Safety program. To ensure compliance Driscoll’s conducts over 1,400 audits annually at fields, packing houses and coolers.
Are Driscoll’s packages recyclable?
Our clamshell packages are stamped with the international recycling code, which is three chasing arrows within a triangle with a number inside to designate the level of recyclability of the package. Currently our packaging is marked with the recycling code#6. While this container is recyclable, it may not be acceptable in all recycling programs or areas. Driscoll’s goal is to convert our containers to PET, Polyethylene Terephthalate, with recycling code #1, which is the most acceptable recyclable packaging.