Biggest North-American producers of blueberries
Indian family becomes champion in Canadian farming as blueberry consumption swells

The Purewal Farms in Canada are the biggest producers of blueberries in North America. With their annual of turnover of about $50 million this year, Purewal produced about half of the blueberries. Their produce has also been chosen in a survey as the best in North America.

The survey was conducted by the American superstore chain Safeway, which has more than 1,700 outlets in the US and 250 in Canada. "More than 70 per cent of the consumers opted for our blueberries in the survey across America and Canada," says Gurjit Purewal, one of three brothers-cum-partners in this rare joint family venture.

Purewal Farms are spread over hundreds of acres in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, which is the major producer of blueberries in the world. These Farms' Duke and Blue Crop varieties of blueberries are very popular with consumers.

"We produced about 24 million-pound blueberries this year, and we are the major suppliers for Safeway, Saver Food and two other Japanese and American chains," reveals Purewal.

Previously, Safeway had given the Purewal Farms its Supplier of the Year award in 2002.

Today, Purewal has over 1,000 acres, and they are buying from whosoever is willing to sell his land.

Till 1985, they sold their produce to others. Then the Purewals set up their own plant. Today this plant worth $25 million covers 150,000 sq ft area, and is expanding. Because the demand for blueberries increasing all the time. It is being increasingly consumed fresh on a large scale now.

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