Grand Junction, MI – The Michigan blueberry harvest is once again 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, locally as well as throughout the country.
South Haven Mayor Bob Burr helped kick off the season for a ceremonial “First Pick” by visiting with local grower Chris Hodgman of Hodgman Blueberry Plantation, along with Larry Ensfield, President & CEO of MBG Marketing, a grower-owned cooperative and a founding partner of Naturipe Farms, which manages the sales, marketing and distribution of the co-op’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.”
Hodgman, a third generation blueberry grower-member of MBG, gave Mayor Burr a tour of his family farm in Grand Junction, MI and discussed this year’s crop with the mayor and Ensfield. Chris shared that while the past two winters have certainly put some stress on Michigan’s fruit crops, including his own, his family has been growing blueberries for 85-years and they always find a way to produce a good crop come July. Ensfield knows all too well the challenges facing Michigan’s blueberry growers as they bring a crop to harvest. “It requires a tremendous amount of coordination between the growers, harvesting crews, Naturipe and MBG sales and support teams, packaging suppliers, packers and processors, and warehousing and transportation providers to keep our local industry thriving.” He then added, “ Somehow we manage to get it all done – every year!”
Michigan continues to rank amongst the top states in highbush blueberry production with its growers expected to produce nearly 90 million pounds of blueberries in 2015 for fresh and frozen markets. MBG Marketing members represent a significant portion of the approximately 600 family blueberry farms in Michigan. In addition to the Naturipe brand fresh market blueberries you will find at your local grocer or club store, MBG’s Michigan grown frozen blueberries will be used domestically and internationally to produce various baked goods, yogurts, pie fillings, cereals, ice creams, smoothies, fruit juices, concentrates, purees and bagged frozen blueberries sold to retailers and restaurants.
Naturipe Farms LLC is a grower-owned producer and international marketer of healthy, best tasting, premium berries. With production primarily from multi generation family farms, located in the prime berry growing regions throughout North and South America. The diverse grower base ensures year-round availability of “locally grown” and “in-season global” conventional and organic berries. Naturipe Farms, formed in 2000, is a partnership between MBG Marketing, Hortifrut SA, Naturipe Berry Growers and Munger Farms. With sales and customer service offices located strategically throughout the USA – Salinas CA., Grand Junction MI., Estero FL., Boston MA., Wenatchee WA., Atlanta GA. For more information visit: www.naturipefarms.com or https://www.facebook.com/Naturipe
Source: Naturipe Farms LLC