Growing Berries
About Berries and Berry Care
Health and Nutrition
Food Safety and Packaging
Consumer Relations
Careers at Driscoll’s

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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. Additionally we are rolling out a program called "Follow Us To The Farm." that provides our consumers with the ability to track their berry clamshell package back to the field where it was picked.

To follow your berries back to the farm where they were grown just locate the 12 digit Harvest Mark code located on the right corner of the barcode label. In some cases the code might be printed on the top of your berry package. Once you locate your HarvestMark code click on "Follow Us To The Farm." and you will be able to learn about the farm where your berries were grown along with nutrition information, recipe ideas and other helpful tips.

Does Driscoll’s offer organically grown berries?

Driscoll’s is a 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 sometimes picked using harvesting machines and/or packed in packing facilities.

ABOUT BERRIES AND BERRY CARE

Where can I buy Driscoll’s berries?

Driscoll’s berries can be purchased at most large chain supermarkets and club stores throughout the United States. We encourage you to contact the store first to confirm that the berries you want are available and in stock. For a list of stores visit Where to Buy. Many factors including weather can affect berry supplies.

What types of berries does Driscoll’s offer?

Driscoll’s offers year round organic and conventionally grown berries, including strawberries, long stem strawberries, red and golden raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.

What should I look for when selecting berries?

Each berry has different characteristics you should look for when selecting only the freshest and most delicious berries. 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 refrigerator until ready to use.

Do I need to wash my berries before I use them?

As with all fresh produce we recommend that you wash your berries before enjoying 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 my 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 cookie 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 cookie 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 cookie 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.

Does Driscoll’s have recipes?

Yes our website offers a wonderful selection of recipes if you’re looking for great ideas to help with meal planning, snacks, desserts, beverages or entertaining. Please visit our recipe section on the website to view the full array available.

Why are the insides of my 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. For more information about the health benefits of Driscoll’s berries visit the Live Healthy section of our website.

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. 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 “The finest Berries in the World.” Our patented berry varieties come from years of breeding to naturally produce the best tasting berry for our consumers.

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.

CONSUMER RELATIONS

Can Driscoll’s ship directly to the consumer?

Driscoll’s does not sell or ship berries to consumers. You can find our premium berries in grocery and club stores around the country. Please visit Where to Buy to find a list of retailers that carry Driscoll’s berries throughout the year.

Does Driscoll’s sell their berry plants?

Because Driscoll’s unique variety of plants are patented, our plants and seeds are not for sale and cannot be grown by anyone other than our independent farming partners.

What should I do if my Driscoll’s coupon expired before I redeemed it?

If you discover your Driscoll’s coupon has expired we’ll be happy to send you a replacement. To do so please forward your outdated coupon to the address below. Please allow up to 10-14 business days to receive your new coupon.

Driscoll’s
345 Westridge Drive
Watsonville, CA 95076
Attn: Consumer Relations Department/Expired Coupon Replacement

CAREERS AT DRISCOLL’S

Does Driscoll’s currently have any job openings?

Driscoll’s is presently accepting applications for our job openings. To view a listing of our current opportunities visit the Careers section of the website and click on Job Opportunities. If you find a job opportunity that you are interested in we recommend that you submit your application and resume online.

How can I submit my resume for a job posting?

Go to the Careers page and click on Job Opportunities. Select the opening that is of interest to you and one which you feel is a match with your skill-set or experience. Then follow the instructions for submitting your resume and application online. Or, if you prefer you can submit your resume in a general sense and not apply for a listed specific position. To do this you will need to click on the “Submit Your Resume” link. If you would like to add a cover letter or additional information, use the “Note to Recruiter” field to include this information.

What formats can I submit my resume?

To submit your resume, please copy the text into the Resume field provided on the online application. Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to receive resumes in any other format such as Word or PDF formats.

How do I add a cover letter?

If you would like to add a cover letter or additional information, use the “Note to Recruiter” field on the online application to include this information.

How do I know my resume has been received?

If you apply online once you click the “Submit” button at the end of the form, you should see a “thank you for your interest in Driscoll’s” page. If you do not receive this message we have not received your application and/or resume.

Can I update my resume if I have already submitted it with my application?

Yes. If you previously submitted a resume online and wish to make changes to it, go to the Careers page and click on Job Postings then click on the “Update Your Resume” link and follow the easy instructions to make changes to your resume.

If I’ve submitted my resume, do I still need to fill out an application?

If you are selected as a finalist, you will be asked to complete an application at that time.

Does Driscoll’s perform background checks to get hired?

Yes. Driscoll’s may conduct a background check as a condition of new employment.

How long before I hear back on my interviews?

Your recruiter will be in contact with you throughout the interview process and will help with explaining the interview process and timing. Also, because Driscoll’s is a team based environment, there will likely be several interviews, including a panel (or group) interview that is included in the interview process.

How do I contact Human Resources if I have a question about a career opportunity or a resume I have submitted?

Please check our FAQ section as it answers many of our most frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer our email address for career questions is careers@driscolls.com.