Berry People

US organics specialist Berry People has announced the launch of its inaugural Chilean blueberry season and Avo People-branded organic avocado programme from Mexico and Chile.

The company, which was established in 2017 by three business partners in the US and Mexico–Jerald Downs, Francisco Ortiz, and Gerardo Escalera–said it anticipated substantial growth in the near future after a solid first-year performance.

With the first shipments of organic Chilean blueberries beginning this September, Downs said that expectations were high for the inaugural season.

“The maturity of the region’s productionand the quality of the people we are working with are the setting for an intense and ultimately rewarding season,”he said.

In addition to its organic offering, the company will provide conventional and biodynamic blueberries.

The company’s Mexican raspberry programme is also underway, with production expected to build in October with steady volumes from November onward

“There is a swell of unmet demand for quality raspberries, and the flow of investment and development of production looks to be outpaced by the demand on the visible horizon,” Downssaid.

Complementing the company’s full line of branded berries are Avo People-brandedorganic and conventional avocados.

Packing of conventional fruit began in the first week of September, and the first harvests of organic avocados from Mexico and Chile are just getting underway.

“While Franciscohas been farming avocados since 1972, as a company we are taking the avocado business slowly and methodically, making sure to do right by the farm and by our retailers, makingcontinuity and transparency of business a priority,”said Downs.