Berry Fresh will expand its production of blueberries in Oregon with a new field of its own dedicated to premium varieties, an investment with which it seeks to strengthen its offering throughout the year and increase the weight of its US production.

The project will be developed near the North Fork field and will focus on new varieties. Berry Fresh's integrated model encompasses variety selection, production, harvesting, packing, and marketing, allowing it to directly manage fruit quality and availability.

Jorge Varela, CEO of AgroBerries, Berry Fresh's parent company, noted that investment in their own fields and access to new varieties have been pillars of the company's growth.

Sekoya and new varieties in the Oregon program

The first plantings will include Sekoya Crunch®, Sekoya Nova® and Sekoya Fiesta®, along with trials of other varieties that could be incorporated into the commercial program later.

Berry Fresh also recently expanded its varietal access through a licensing agreement with Mountain Blue Orchards (MBO)®, as part of its strategy to strengthen North American production.

As the project progresses, the company plans to incorporate other varieties adapted to Oregon's conditions and expand the availability of premium fruit during the main trading window of the North American summer.

© Berry Fresh

Oregon strengthens US program

The expansion in Oregon seeks to increase Berry Fresh's own production in the United States and provide greater continuity of its supply throughout the year.

Darren Sinn, Berry Fresh's vice president of Operations and Supply Chain, noted that Oregon will remain the base of the U.S. program. blueberries of the company and that the expansion will allow for an increased presence of premium varieties in the region.

© Berry Fresh

The regional investment also includes blackberries. Berry Fresh is tripling its Sweet Karoline® plantings to expand its summer supply and improve continuity between its operations in Mexico and Oregon.

With the new field, the Sekoya varieties and the agreement with MBO, Berry Fresh seeks to strengthen its production capacity in one of the main blueberry areas of the United States and sustain a wider supply during the North American season.