The Michigan blueberry harvest is about to launch into full swing and local growers are working long hours to ensure that the blueberries are picked, packed and available to consumers, retailers, restaurants, and food manufacturers.
South Haven Mayor Bob Burr helped kick off the season with a ceremonial 'First Pick' by visiting local grower Chris Hodgman of Hodgman Blueberry Plantation, along with Larry Ensfield, president and CEO of MBG Marketing.
MBG is a grower-owned cooperative and a founding partner of Naturipe Farms, which manages the sales, marketing and distribution of the co-operative's blueberries.
“I am pleased to come to the MBG blueberry fields again to participate in the ceremonial 'First Pick', signifying that our Michigan blueberries are on the way to consumers throughout the country as well as to key export markets around the globe” stated Mayor Burr. “The family owned blueberry farms in this part of Michigan have been a key part of our economic and community development for many generations.”
Ensfield agreed and added, “These berries will reach markets such as Hong Kong and will demonstrate the demand for our high quality products at a time when export is also a key economic driver for all of us in Michigan.”
Michigan continues to rank amongst the top states in highbush blueberry production with its growers expected to produce nearly 90m pounds of blueberries in 2015 for fresh and frozen markets.
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