US-based berry grower-importer-distributor Naturipe Farms is expanding its berry operations in Mexico in time for the first commercial blueberry harvest in 2013.
“Naturipe, working through one of our grower owners, Hortifrut, has been developing a very large planting project in Michoacán, Mexico, over the last two-and-a-half years,” the company’s vice-president of product development, Brian Bocock, told Trade Latin America.
Naturipe already has a large base for blackberries, strawberries and raspberries in Mexico and in recent years the group has planted several early blueberry varieties which are now coming into production.
Bocock said the expansion in Mexico has been drive by high demand for blueberries in the US, cheaper logistics costs in Mexico as well as quicker transportation links to the US market and an abundant labour resource.
Naturipe Farms is a partnership between four fresh berry growers: Hortifruit, Michigan Blueberry Growers, Munger Farms and Naturipe Berry Growers.
The full report is published in Trade Latin America 2012/13.
