Blueberry grower-marketer, Naturipe Farms, has announced it expects to produce its largest ever crop in 2020.
The US-based farmer-owned producer said new plantings and the addition of significant farms to the company’s grower base will help it reach a record-setting volume.
Brian Bocock, vice president of product management of Naturipe, said the company’s understanding of historical production and its quality growers help make for an accurate prediction.
“We are always in pursuit of the very best growers in the world who are willing to innovate and leverage technology to bring the tastiest berries to our consumers. These traits have the added benefit of helping us accurately estimate the size of our harvest,” Bocock said.
According to Bocock, increased volume is just one of the results of the efforts Naturipe and its growers are making to produce the best berry.
“For example, many of our growers are moving their bushes under tunnels which helps moderate weather, producing better fruit and making forecast and yields more dependable,” Bocock explained.
“We’re also making major moves to improve our varieties by helping our growers carefully selecting the best varieties for their growing region and conditions. In doing so, we can consistently yield better results both in terms of volume, but most important to us, taste.”
CarrieAnn Arias, vice president of marketing of Naturipe Farms, said the company is confident its prediction will make 2020 ‘the year of the blueberry’.
“It’s a drastic increase we’ve been planning in response to growing consumer demand,” said Arias.
“So, whether you prefer a yogurt parfait, blueberry pie, or a handful of straight berries, we’ll be here all year long to help you celebrate the year of the blueberry.”
