US importer-distributor Curry & Company has expanded its South American fruit import programme by establishing a subsidiary in Chile, according to a press release from the company.
Curry Fruit Chile, which sees industry veteran Ernesto Pino join as founding and managing partner, will allow the firm’s year-round berry programme continue to grow.
The new arm will be responsible for the growth and development of all South American product being shipped to Curry & Co in North America, as well as to customers in Europe and Asia.
The subsidiary will also focus on quality fruit, an efficient distribution network and grower relations in Chile, Argentina and Peru, Curry & Co said.
Argentinean blueberry shipments will begin in early October and shipments from Chile will start in November 2013 and end about April 2014, according to the company.
A full range of consumer packs will be available for the length of each respective season.
“The berry category is growing and consumer demand worldwide is pushing this growth towards a higher quality product and service,” explained Pino.
“The opportunity to help launch and develop Curry Fruit Chile and Curry & Company’s year round berry program is exciting and the timing is perfect to meet the needs of consumers.”
Curry & Co president, Matt Curry agreed, noting that the blueberry phenomenon continues to grow.
“They are a product that consumers respond to year round, and consumers expect to find berries in produce departments each and every shopping trip,” Curry explained.
“The time to capitalize on this growth is now. We’ve made investments at our blueberry packing facility in Brooks, Oregon, and have proven our commitment to this category by launching Curry Fruit Chile. Adding Ernesto to our team is exciting, he is a well-respected industry professional.”
Pino is a former Vitalberry executive where he has worked for the last six years, and overall has a history in the fruit industry since 1992.
Prior to joining Vitalberry, he also worked for Del Monte Fresh Produce in Chile and Europe in a wide variety of positions.
Curry & Co’s evolving year-round berry programme is managed by its director of berry development, Bruce Turner, who joined the company in the spring of 2013.
Headquartered in Brooks, Curry & Co supplies sweet onions, onions, and blueberries 52 weeks of the year.
