What makes a Well-Pict variety better? It’s simple… everything. From their natural beauty to their sweet, juicy taste, Well-Pict strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are unmatched in quality. Period.
Because our proprietary varieties are what make Well-Pict known worldwide as a supplier of premium berries, we are constantly looking to bring new and improved varieties to the market. The creation of a new superior variety requires a multi-million dollar investment and can take up to ten years to complete, and that’s all before the fruits of our labor ever reach store shelves.
For Well-Pict, the development of a superior variety begins with choosing the perfect “parent” plants. Literally, tens of thousands of unique seedlings are evaluated each year, as we search for only the “best of the best” to be called Well-Pict. We look for the finest in flavor and size, color and gloss, and even the best in performing against pests and disease. Only those deemed to be at the highest levels in all categories become the chosen few to be moved forward as the next superior variety.
Following this extensive and critical screening process, individual seedlings are propagated using plant tissue cultures in our Well-Pict laboratory. Patented new varieties are “fingerprinted” for future identification. Once clearly identified and patented, plants are moved from the laboratory to higher elevation nurseries for further growth and propagation. Over a four-year period, what began as a single seedling becomes multiple millions of genetically identical disease-free plants. Uniquely Well-Pict, you’ll find no other varieties exactly like them, ultimately setting Well-Pict miles apart from the competition by producing delicious, superior berries like none other found in the world.
CONVENTIONAL
At Well-Pict, we know the very best berries can only come from the very best land, offering the perfect soil and the perfect climate. A tall order to ask of any prime acreage to be sure, but the land we choose admirably lives up to these high standards.
Just as in 1969, when our founders selected Well-Pict’s original 150 acres, fertile valleys and coastal breezes are considered the secret to growing premium berries. Land offering these characteristics remains the premier choice for Well-Pict farms today. It only takes a short visit to the region of Well-Pict’s headquarters in Watsonville, CA to quickly see that these amazing fields are not only breathtaking, but bountiful. The mineral rich soil and coastal air, days warmed by the California sun and nights cooled by the Pacific Ocean fog, the moderate temperatures and the 12-month growing season make this the ideal place to produce the sweet, beautiful, premium berries Well-Pict has become known for worldwide.
After the land has been selected that meets Well-Pict’s stringent requirements, the soil is properly prepared through tilling and fertilization and the fields are planted anew each year with clean, first-year planting stock to ensure maximum fruit quality and minimal pest and disease influence. These “fruiting fields” are tended by only the most experienced growers and field personnel, to guarantee the end result is a Well-Pict berry that is second to none. Our advanced technology and modern techniques, combined with careful and intuitive hand picking and packaging, ensure only the very finest berries make it into each Well-Pict box.
ORGANIC
Always environmentally conscious, and seen as a leader in the produce industry, Well-Pict understands our responsibility to protect the environment and the world we live in. For the last four decades, Well-Pict has helped pave the way for viable, productive alternatives to traditional growing methods, most significantly with the introduction of our popular organic line.
Not only do we adhere to strict guidelines for certified organic produce, we also have long utilized natural biological controls, such as the cultivation of disease-resistant plant varieties and the targeted introduction of friendly insects to our fields. Soils in our organic growing areas are naturally enriched with the use of compost and other non-synthetic nutrient materials, and no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are ever used — only natural, USDA Organic Certified materials are allowed.
Well-Pict is uniquely suited to meet the recent increase in consumer demand for organic produce. Well-Pict’s organic commitment now represents over 10% of our total volume, a number expected to grow exponentially in the years to come.
In addition to our popular organic strawberry line, we also have expanded our organic raspberry program to meet consumer demand. And customers can be assured that, just as in our traditional programs, all our organic berries are Well-Pict’s own proprietary varieties, naturally bred for improved flavor, appearance, aroma and shelf life.
FOOD SAFETY
Although for us it goes without saying, Well-Pict proudly employs the strictest, most careful food safety practices at every step of the production process, from planting and cultivation through harvesting, packing, and shipping.