US berry marketer California Giant Berry Farms has opened a sourcing office in Chile in an effort to expand company visibility and operations for the future.
As of the new season (2010/11), company representative Nader Musleh will be headquartered at the office, which is located within Chile’s berry-growing regions.
“Having company representatives in each growing region along with increased availability for customers this fall and winter furthers the commitment of California Giant to provide quality and service to customers and ultimately the consumer every day,” the company said in a press release.
The month of October serves as a shift in growing regions for California Giant’s blueberries and blackberries, with fruit now being sourced from South America and Mexico.
The harvest is already underway in Argentina and Uruguay, and California Giant expects consistent volume to continue for the next several months before the anticipated peak in November.
Additionally, California Giant expects the Chilean blueberry season to be slightly earlier than last year with shipments due to begin in early November.
In Chile, the group is also sourcing from increased acreage and production, which coupled with the strong production peak, will provide ample supply and quality throughout the winter holidays.
Meanwhile, as the blackberry season winds down in California this month, California Giant is taking advantage of the new season in Mexico where greater volume is available.
The firm’s blackberry season in Mexico stretches from October through May, providing a very strong year-round supply, with peaks in January and spring just in time for Easter and Mother’s Day which complemente California production from May through October.
California Giant’s strawberry volume, meanwhile, continues to be supplied by northern and central California, before the expected shift in growing regions closer to the holiday season in late November.
California Giant is this season focusing on expanding its pack styles, with an emphasis on offering consumers larger pack sizes of blueberries and blackberries.
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