Blackberries are big business for Sun Belle Inc., an Illinois based company that this year celebrates three decades in the produce industry. Company founder and CEO Janice Honigberg started Sun Belle out of a spare room after working on the 57th floor of the Chrysler Building in Manhattan. One could say her love of blackberries fueled her passion for produce. She has slowly passed that passion on to customers.
“Berries have grown tremendously. I remember when we shipped blackberries in containers of 32 or 40 cases each, and a chain might take one or two containers in a week. The same chain may now take several thousand cases per week, with considerably more on promotion,” shared Honigberg.
Blackberry season starting
“It has been an unusual blackberry season, with many disruptions due to poor weather, most recently a freeze and hailstorm in mid-March. Consumers are looking for blackberries, and retailers are eager to feature them as they become available,” explained Honigberg, adding that blackberry supplies are now plentiful.
“The peak of the Mexican blackberry season is May this year. Actually the Mexican blackberry season is very long, running from late September through mid-June. Production comes in at different times during the season, so in addition to good production late April and May, we may see a peak also in late November through mid-December, and again in January if weather doesn’t get in the way.”
Honigberg said that the U.S. blackberry season is also approaching.
“Georgia is expected to begin at the end of May through the first half of July. Arkansas begins around the second week of June and continues through the early autumn. California produces throughout the summer into the fall.”
Type and Taste
“Sun Belle markets the Tupy blackberry from Mexico. It is a great tasting, glossy, medium sized blackberry, not too seedy, with a very nice overall appearance. We are trialing various selections through our varietal development program, in our quest to identify an even better blackberry for Mexico,” said Honigberg.
In the U.S., different varieties are grown.
“The growers we work with in the Southeast have primarily planted University of Arkansas varieties, including Ouachita, Natchez, Osage and Apache. They are also trialing Von from the North Carolina State University caneberry breeding program. The growers we work with in California grow the University of Arkansas Prime-Ark 45 and the newer Prime-Ark Traveler varieties.”
Regardless where they are grown, blackberries thrive in certain conditions.
“Blackberries are a hearty fruit, and do well in heat as well as moderate temperatures. However, blackberries do not respond well to rain, and can be damaged by hail and strong winds. We are working to ensure that as much production as possible is planted under tunnels,” said Honigberg.
Demand and Diversity
“Demand is outstanding,” noted Honigberg.
Blackberries are versatile, making them popular with chefs and consumers who gravitate to the berry’s taste, appearance and color.
“They are frequently used in sauces and as accompaniments to all kinds of meat dishes. They are popular in smoothies and salads as well as in desserts. Blackberries make a mean Margarita. They are great eaten out of hand,” elaborated Honigberg.
Blackberries are also nutrient dense; in the growing health conscious world we live in Honigberg has seen a spike in berry demand.
“Consumers’ interest in healthy eating has also led them to blackberries, which have been ranked very high in antioxidants, with notable levels of polyphenolic compounds.”
The best part of the berry business
“Where to start?” asked Honigberg. “It is very rewarding to come through for our customers consistently, with deliveries of excellent quality product, and to help them build their business. It is very satisfying to know that consumers enjoy our products and can rely on the Sun Belle brand,” she explained, adding that both conventional and organic berry production, including blackberry production, has grown over the years.
“I love coming through for our growers, and helping them succeed through our work marketing and shipping their product, and through collaboration on varieties, packs and innovations. I have also greatly enjoyed building a great team and building the business over the last thirty years.”
For more information:
Lori Boym
Sun Belle, Inc.
+1 708 343 4545