Latest News From Blueberries

California Giant Berry Farms is sponsoring a second annual Chef Invitational, seeking chefs at foodservice partners across the country to compete.

Fresh produce takes four spots on a new top 10 list of superfoods.

An individuals gender and the presence of children in a home significantly change the likelihood of a blueberry purchase.

These tiny globes were the fourth most popular item that shoppers said they bought this year that they did not buy previously.

After its first successful season growing organic strawberries, Berry People, Hollister, Calif., is expanding its Mexican program in Baja California.

Tefen, Israel-based StePac L.A. Ltd. has new packaging that promises better freshness and appearance for long-distance shipments of bulk blueberries.

BBC Technologies, a segment of Tomra Food, has expanded its CURO system to focus on packing fruits under 40 millimeters (about 1.5 inches).

Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference organizers are offering full registration to growers who faced substantial losses from Hurricane Michael, making it easier for them to attend the annual show.

Blueberry company Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc. has new leadership.

.(UPDATED,  Nov. 29) Hail in November will crimp export volume of Chilean cherries and blueberries in 2018-19.

StePac L.A. Ltd., Tefen, Israel, has a new blueberry packaging system designed to reduce waste in the supply chain and save on labor costs.

The Chilean fruit industry is assessing the damage to stone fruit, cherries, blueberries, kiwifruit and grapes after a Nov. 12 hailstorm.

Chile gives North American consumers a “taste of summer” when they need it the most.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has amended the import rules for Chilean blueberries regarding fumigation and European grapevine moths.

Peru-based Camposol said increased volume and sales of blueberries led to record third-quarter earnings and strong sales for the past year.

Miami, Fla.-based Crystal Valley Foods has begun imports of blueberries for the 2018-19 season. 

Dave’s Specialty Imports, Miami, Fla., is offering a jumbo blueberry pack and expanded organic strawberry volume from Mexico, says Leslie Simmons, vice president of Dave’s Specialty Imports, Miami, Fla.

Chilean blueberry export volume in 2018-19 will be down slightly from last year’s record levels, but the North American market will be well-supplied.

Matt Kramer has joined Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc., Lowell, Ore., as director of product development and commercialization.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed administrative complaints under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act against two produce companies, one in Michigan and another in Florida.

Hollister, Calif.-based Berry People is launching its inaugural Chilean blueberry season and its AvoPeople brand organic avocados from both Mexico and Chile.

Always Fresh Farms, grower and marketer of berries and other fruit, has hired Keith Mixon, who has an extensive history in the berry category, as senior advisor to its executive team.

Catch up with quick news updates on companies and groups involved in the Argentina blueberry import deal.

Air shipments are the dominant channel for U.S. imports of Argentina blueberries, but shipments by boat increased in 2017 and are expected to increase again this year.

Argentina blueberry prospects appear solid for the September through December season, marketers say.

Driscoll’s has turned a food truck into a giant basket of berries on wheels, and it could be rolling through your community to offer berry treats.

Southern Belle Organics, Bladenboro, N.C., has hired Vince Ferrante to help the blueberry company expand into organic and conventional vegetables.

Fruit growers have to deal with birds flocking in to eat their cherries, apples, blueberries and more, and Starr Ranch Growers has seen positive results from a high-tech, humane deterrent.

Catch up on late season developments with a bunch of berry companies from around North America.

Berry marketer Sun Belle Inc. has a new refrigerated distribution facility adjacent to Miami International Airport, an importing hub for some of its products.

High temperatures in parts of California in July had no effect at all on berry growing areas, industry leaders said.

Copy editor and designer Amelia Freidline and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss millennial-friendly uses for blueberries, from salads to sauces to cakes. 

July is National Blueberry Month, and New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher celebrated with a visit to Macrie Bros. Blueberry Farm.

Leduc Blueberries, a Paw Paw, Mich., grower, is expanding its partnership with Wish Farms, increasing its supply by about 30% from last year’s volumes.

Oregon Berry Packing Co., Hillsboro, has built a new packing and storage facility, said Trevor Abell, international sales director.

Not long ago, strawberries were considered the mainstay of the berry category, and bush berries were something consumers might pick up for an occasional treat.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll’s miniseries “Pursuit of Flavor,” which the company launched in April, has already gained more than 1.5 million views.

Despite the challenges a wetter climate can give organic producers, New Jersey growers are still investing in organic agriculture.

Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms recently hosted Florida bloggers for a tour of the company’s blueberry packing operations and its new organic farm, Misty Organics.

Crystal Valley Foods will be shipping Alabama blueberries through a partnership Old South Blueberries LLC when the season begins in late May.

Dave’s Specialty Imports Inc. has hired Tom Rawles as operations manager, focused on grower relations.

Plant City, Fla.-based strawberry and blueberry grower-shipper Wish Farms has begun to market Florida blueberries from its new Misty Organics farm in Alturas, Fla.

Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms LLC has an earlier peak on organic blueberries that was expected to begin at the end of April in California, said Brian Vertrees, director of business development-West.

Harvest start dates were running behind year-ago starts for Georgia produce, but shippers report warmer weather will quickly turn up shipments by May and June.

Catch up on berry news from produce companies supplying and marketing fresh berries in North America.

Alex Ott is leaving the California Apple Commission and other commodity boards to become the full-time executive director of the American Pecan Council.

Cool weather in growing areas across the U.S. could delay the launch of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries a bit this season, but growers say promotable volume should be available.

Alex Ott is leaving the California Apple Commission and other commodity boards to become the full-time executive director of the American Pecan Council.

Berries have become a foodservice favorite as their availability grows and chefs discover new uses for the tasty fruit, grower-shippers say.

Big imports from Mexico have threatened the economic viability of Florida and Georgia blueberry growers, Southeast U.S. industry leaders say.