Giumarra Cos. adds supply from CarSol, Chilean blueberry grower

The Giumarra Cos., Los Angeles, has a new partnership with the CarSol Group, a Santiago, Chile, grower and distributor of blueberries from Chile and Peru.

CarSol Group farms 1,200 hectares (about 3,000 acres) of its own blueberries in Chile, Peru and Portugal, according to a news release from Giumarra. The partnership aligns with the company’s initiative to increase it berry business by adding grower-partners.

“This partnership represents an important step in Giumarra’s commitment to our berry business,” Tom Richardson, senior vice president of global development for the Giumarra Cos., said in the release. “As one of the early producers of blueberries in Chile, CarSol Group played a critical role in the development of the Chilean blueberry industry, dating back to the industry’s origins in 1990.”

CarSol brings access to new blueberry genetics and consistent volume growth throughout the import season.

“We have worked with the Giumarra Cos. as commercial partners and we are ready to take this relationship to the next level,” Sebastián Carmona, CEO of CarSol Export, said in the release. “We believe that both companies share the same values and principles, and it has been a pleasure to conduct business with them over the years.”

Carmona said Giumarra’s knowledge of the U.S. market and CarSol’s experience in other countries will allow both companies to develop the North American berry business.

Giumarra International Berry markets blueberries and blackberries year-round under the Nature’s Partner Brand.