About Berries
Q: Why are strawberries red?
A:Q: How many seeds are on a strawberry?
A:Q: Are there white strawberries?
A:Q: Where can I buy Wish Farms berries?
A:Q: Do berries continue to ripen after they have been harvested?
A:Q: Are Wish Farms berries available year-round?
A:Q: Why aren’t berry containers completely sealed?
A:We work closely with our retail partners to promote proper handling and food safety standards throughout the supply chain. As with all fresh produce, we recommend giving berries a quick rinse before enjoying them.
Q: Why do berries sometimes develop mold?
A:We encourage shoppers to inspect each package carefully before purchasing and recommend consuming or freezing your berries within 3-5 days from purchase.
Q: Why Didn’t My Berries Develop Mold?
A:We do not apply preservatives to extend the shelf life of our berries. If berries shrivel instead of molding, it's typically a natural result of dehydration.
How berries age can vary based on several factors, including the variety, growing conditions, ripeness at harvest, and how they're stored. When kept refrigerated, blueberries in particular often maintain their quality for an extended period and may gradually shrivel before showing any visible signs of mold.
Q: Do strawberries contain high levels of nitrates?
A:It's also important to distinguish between naturally occurring nitrates found in produce and nitrates that may be added to certain processed foods. The nitrates found in fruits and vegetables are part of a natural plant process and are generally consumed alongside vitamins, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds. In fact, vegetables are the primary source of dietary nitrates for most people.
A nitrate level of 350 ppm (mg/kg) in strawberries would not generally be considered unusual or unsafe. Natural nitrate levels in strawberries can vary based on factors such as variety, growing conditions, weather, soil composition, and harvest timing, but levels ranging from approximately 100–500 ppm have been reported in strawberries.
Q: Why Do Berries Sometimes Have a “Chemical” or Unusual Taste?
A:In some cases, berries that have been stored for an extended period or have begun to break down may develop unusual flavors or aromas that some consumers describe as ``chemical,`` ``medicinal,`` or simply ``off.`` This can happen naturally as the fruit ages and its quality declines.
If berries have an unpleasant taste, unusual odor, or appear overripe, it is best not to consume them.
Growing Berries
Q: Where are Wish Farms berries grown?
A:Q: How are Wish Farms berries harvested?
A:Q: How can I find out where my purchased berries were grown?
A:Q: Do Wish Farms offer organically grown berries?
A:Q: Why don’t you grow everything organic?
A:Organic berries typically cost significantly more to produce and often yield less than conventionally grown fruit. At the same time, many sustainable farming practices used in organic production are also used on our conventional farms. For example, we often release beneficial insects to naturally manage pests and reduce the need for crop protection products.
Our goal is always to grow healthy, high-quality berries using the most effective and responsible practices available. Sometimes that means organic methods are the best choice. By growing both, we can offer consumers the choices they want while maintaining a reliable supply of fresh berries.
Q: Which berries are sold by Wish Farms?
A:Berry Care
Q: Do I need to wash my berries before eating them?
A:Q: What is the best way to store berries once purchased?
A:Food Safety
Q: Does Wish Farms have a Global Food Safety Program?
A:Our berry processing facilities are certified by Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) which, defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a systematic approach to the identification, evaluation, and control of food safety hazards.
Wish Farms is compliant with the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI), which implements case-level electronic traceability across our strawberry and blueberry shipments. We have gone above and beyond this industry-driven standard and developed a patented traceability system called FreshQC™ How’s My Picking?™ achieving item-level produce traceability. Learn more about our Food Safety Program.
Q: Does Wish Farms add color or artificially enhance its berries?
A:Q: Are Wish Farms berries “genetically modified” or “GMO”?
A:The term ``GMO`` often creates concern, but it is a bit of a misnomer. It stands for Genetically Modified Organism and refers to cross species breeding.
Plant breeding and crop improvement have been part of agriculture for over ten thousand years. Nearly all fruits and vegetables we eat today have been selectively bred and modified over generations to improve traits like flavor, yield, disease resistance, and shelf life.
Modern technology and gene-editing tools are simply newer ways of achieving many of those same goals, often with greater precision and in less time. These technologies are being explored to help farmers grow crops more sustainably by reducing crop losses from pests and diseases, while using fewer resources.
There are a lot of differing opinions online about GMOs and gene editing, but the science can be more nuanced than many discussions suggest. Regardless, we want to assure you that the berries we grow and sell, organic and conventional alike, meet strict safety and quality standards, and are not GMO.
Q: Does Wish Farms use pesticides?
A:Our practices are heavily regulated by federal agencies and third-party auditors. All products used are EPA-approved. We also strictly follow re-entry intervals (to protect workers) and pre-harvest intervals (to protect consumers).
Our food safety team regularly tests for residue levels and reviews spray records to ensure compliance with U.S. and Canadian standards. It’s important to note that modern testing can detect extremely small trace amounts, often far below safety limits (in the parts per million). Detection does not mean a product is unsafe.
Ultimately, we grow these berries for our own families as well, so safety is personal to us.
If you’d like to learn more about how residue levels compare to safety standards, this tool is very helpful: https://www.safefruitsandveggies.com/pesticide-residue-calculator/
Q: Do you use Apeel on your berries?
A:We know there’s a lot of confusing information circulating online, and it can be difficult to separate fact from speculation. If you’re interested in learning more, here’s a helpful article that provides more context: https://www.acsh.org/news/2023/09/13/apeel-new-chemophobic-concern-17326
Q: Are any dyes used your berries?
A:Strawberries are naturally acidic, with a pH of about 3.5. If you wash or soak berries in highly alkaline water (pH above 9), the fruit's surface can begin to break down, causing anthocyanins to be released into the water. Because these pigments are sensitive to changes in pH, they can also change color under alkaline conditions, which is why the water may appear discolored.
Q: Do you use Glyphosate or Roundup?
A:Our priority is producing safe, high-quality berries, and all practices are carefully timed and managed to ensure the fruit you enjoy is grown responsibly and in line with strict agricultural standards.
Q: Are PFAS compounds used on berries?
A:Crop protection products undergo extensive review by the EPA and other regulatory agencies before they can be used. The residue levels found on fruits and vegetables are routinely monitored and must remain well below strict safety limits established to protect consumers, including children and other sensitive populations.
The bottom line is that the fruits and vegetables available to consumers continue to meet rigorous food safety standards. In fact, monitoring programs consistently show that pesticide residues, when detected, are typically a small fraction of the already conservative limits established by regulatory authorities.
If you are interested in learning more, please visit: https://www.wga.com/news/pfas-pesticides-and-fresh-produce-what-does-the-data-really-say/
Other Questions
Q: Can I purchase berries directly?
A:If you are looking to purchase wholesale bulk quantities, please contact our sales department: sales@wishfarms.com
If you would like to purchase individual flats of berries, we usually have them available for pick up at our warehouse: 1301 S. Frontage Road Plant City, FL 33563.
Please call before arriving to ensure we have berries available: 813-752-5111
Cash sales only
Q: Do you offer coupons?
A:Q: Why do you use plastic packaging?
A:Berries are highly perishable, and packaging helps prevent damage, extend shelf life, and reduce food waste. We continuously explore alternatives, including reduced-plastic, compostable, and paper-based options, but many do not yet provide the durability, visibility, and freshness protection needed for delicate berries.
We're committed to improving our packaging and have already introduced solutions that reduce plastic use and improve recyclability. As new technologies become available, we'll continue working toward more sustainable options while ensuring consumers receive the fresh, high-quality fruit they expect.
Q: Why does your Plant City Address not match the country of origin?
A:While our headquarters is in Plant City, FL, we source berries from different regions throughout the year based on the growing season. For more details, you can view our growing regions here:
https://wishfarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WF-Product-Supply-Chart-1.pdf
