Salinas, Calif.-based berry producer Naturipe Farms says it is expanding strawberry growing operations into Florida.
At the heart of the development is the Chavez family of Berry Red Farms in Duette, Fla., according to a news release. Since 2004, Merced and Dee Chavez have transformed their initial 6 leased acres into a 200-acre strawberry operation. Naturipe Farms said their dedication and resilience reflect core values — including strong ties to the land and a commitment to high-quality, fresh produce — that they share with the company.
“We are thrilled to offer our retailers more local options for stocking sweet, succulent strawberries,” Jim Roberts, president of Sales at Naturipe Farms, said in the release. “Our experience growing strawberries, along with blueberries and other produce in Florida, directly benefits both the retailer and the customer. We’re looking forward to growing our operations in Florida even further as we move forward.”
The expansion will benefit for retailers and customers alike, the company said. In addition to increased availability of Naturipe’s strawberries for retailers in the region, the strawberries will have a decreased transit distance, longer growing seasons and will be on the shelves closer to their harvest, resulting in optimal freshness, the release said.
