MIGIVA Group, having recently entered into a joint venture with United Exports, announced the acquisition and development of the first ever OZblu production farm in Florida, USA. OZblu said it is delighted that their low-chill varieties of blueberries are expanding into this new territory, allowing the company to take part in servicing the biggest blueberry market in the world with locally grown product.
“As a world-class grower we are very excited to implement our expansion in the U.S. We see this as a milestone for a new series of long term strategic investments for our Group,” said Matt Zinger who oversees Global Investments at MIGIVA Group.
America’s blueberry consumption rate sits at an average of 500,000 tonnes per year. Across the 450 million citizens that the continent hosts, an average of 1.15kg of blueberries are consumed per person per year, resulting in one of the highest per capita consumption internationally. Tapping into this blueberry-loving marketplace is an exciting prospect for both parties.
Jonathan Geller, Director at MIGIVA Group, reflects: “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to be the exclusive grower of the market leading OZblu varieties in North America. We will be seizing this advantage over the next 18 months by deploying $32 million to build cutting edge vertically integrated farms and process plants.”
MIGIVA Groups´ first round of acquisitions included a 453 acre blueberry farm in Venus, Florida and an 82 acre blueberry farm and process plant in Sebring, Florida.
Roger Horak, global CEO of United Exports and co-founder of OZblu, states: “Being able to produce a consistent product that not only meets, but exceeds the blueberry consumer’s needs, is what we are about. Partnering with companies like MIGIVA Group is what makes this possible.”
Similar to seedless grapes and Pink Lady® apples, most consumers are seeking new varietal experiences within the blueberry sector, the company said. Very few people are aware that significant innovation is already taking place as embodied by evergreen varieties. The demand for these new varieties within the category far outweighs supply. MIGIVA’s acquisition of the new North American farm serves to spread awareness of the blueberry sector’s publicly unacknowledged innovativeness, it concluded.
For more information:
Chloë Frey
chloe@unitedexports.com.au
www.ozblu.com
www.migivagroup.com