Blueberries
The company first made the list in 2019 and has continued to make steady growth.
California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonville, Calif., is blockchain compliant with the IBM Food Trust, allowing all points of the company’s berry supply chain to access data.
The region is a key hub for berry production, supplying retailers with an early season of fresh strawberries, blueberries and more.
The company behind Fruitist Blueberries aims to bring nutritious snacking to the world with its “global-local” strategy.
Originating in the eastern U.S., the pathogen has been found in Peru, Morrocco, China, Portugal and Mexico and was likely spread through infected nursery material.
The organization said the grant, as part of USDA Regional Agricultural Promotion Program funding, will help it expand into Southeast Asia.
The council, which supports the marketing and promotion of highbush blueberries, added nine members and 10 alternate members.
U.S. imports of Chilean blueberries totaled 45,982 metric tons in 2022, up from 42,458 metric tons in 2021 and up from 42,608 metric tons in 2020.
A standardized naming convention associates each new proprietary blueberry, raspberry and blackberry variety with a gemstone, the company says.
Cort Brazelton will serve as acting president as CEO while the blueberry breeding and nursery company searches for a new CEO.