Berry supply is currently plentiful; blueberries and strawberries are still available in the U.S. domestic market, and the transition to Mexico and Latin America has started. "We still have blueberries from several domestic growers in Michigan, Oregon, Washington as well as British Columbia in Canada," says Jim Roberts, President of Naturipe Farms. In addition, blueberries are available from Mexico, Ecuador and Peru. Strawberries are harvested in California and blackberries are grown in both California and Mexico currently. Now is also a great time for raspberries, as their quality is highest during early fall months when they are picked at peak freshness from growers in Central Mexico and Baja Mexico. Naturipe is expecting to see strong raspberry volumes throughout the early fall months. In addition to the four most common berry varieties, cranberries will also be available soon.
The domestic season hasn't been without challenges this year due to flooding and extreme heat in North Carolina and Georgia. As a result, production volume of blueberries was slightly lower than normal. However, supply is now back on track. "We are fortunate to work with growing partners in many different regions, including the U.S., Canada, and South America," commented Roberts. "When volumes lull in one area, another region is already backfilling to keep supply steady." As the domestic season starts to wind down, the weather is leveling out and the crops should get an opportunity to settle before next year's season.
With both northern and southern hemisphere berry growing regions being in production right now, no gaps in supply are expected this coming fall. Imports have already started bolstering domestic supply.
© Naturipe Farms
Berries combine health and convenience
Demand for berries is up across the board, mainly driven by health trends and seasonality. "Many shoppers are increasingly focused on what they are consuming and are looking for ways to mix fresh fruits and vegetables into their diets," Roberts said. "Berries offer an easy way to do so." While variety development has always been an important part of Naturipe's business, it is now being taken to new heights. "We have designated teams studying the genetic makeup of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. They are constantly looking for ways to make our delicious berries even better." When selecting traits to breed for, many of the big focus areas have been centered around retail and customer experiences. A common piece of feedback is that some berries – especially blackberries and raspberries – are highly fragile and easily get damaged in transit. "With that challenge in mind, we've selected traits that make berries firmer and more durable for transit, boosting reliability and profits for retailers."
Envoy blueberry
One of the berry varieties the company is especially proud of is Envoy, a blueberry that takes the best traits of everything currently available on the market. "Envoy crafts one perfect blueberry that strikes a balance between tart and sweet, is very large, has a firm, crisp texture and is blue as can be." In addition, the company's newest varieties of raspberries and blackberries will enter the market this fall. Recently, Naturipe hosted a small group at their blueberry breeding facility in Michigan, where visitors got to see and taste the difference that berry breeding can make. "In the future," said Roberts, "we're charging ahead with even more focus on berry breeding."
© Naturipe Farms
Envoy blueberry pictured on right.
"We are confident we will continue to lead the industry with new and innovative items for our retail customers. It's our goal to help them build category sales and bring more consumers to healthy, great tasting fruits," Roberts concluded.
For more information:
Jim Roberts
Naturipe Farms
[email protected]
www.naturipefarms.com
