Produce News Facebook  Produce News Twitter  Produce News LinkedIn  Produce News Instagram

Jersey Fresh blues are healthy goals!

By
Joe Atchison III

New Jersey had a very interesting winter and spring. We had 90 degree days early and then again in April followed by two nights of below freezing temperatures. A few fruit crops were lost entirely to this freeze while others were impacted to a lesser degree. The great news is, New Jersey blueberry producers expect a robust crop of top-quality berries for this year. And we are happy to report that Jersey Fresh blueberries will be ready for your shelves starting mid-June into August. 

Your customers know Jersey Fresh blueberries will provide the flavor and size they desire. Jersey Fresh blueberries provide excellent marketing opportunities for retailers each summer. This is especially true in the New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York and Greater New England metropolitan areas, where Jersey Fresh blueberries are recognized as the best local option. Our annual market research in these regions confirms each season that nearly three-quarters of consumers surveyed believe Jersey Fresh blueberries are superior to berries from elsewhere. 

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture recommends retailers that source Jersey Fresh blueberries to shoppers, and these efforts will continue to be enhanced by our partnerships with the New Jersey Blueberry Growers Association. 

The NJDA has created a comprehensive marketing campaign that includes digital billboards with rotating messages throughout the blueberry harvest, social media ads on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest as well as print advertising in industry publications and Edible Jersey. Additionally, the NJDA’s Jersey Fresh team will have radio spots featuring Jersey Fresh blueberries during the height of the 2026 season. 

Locals and tourists from all over love to visit the world-famous Jersey Shore. Those crowds will be returning and as your customers lounge on our beaches, they will see Jersey Blues and Jersey Fresh airplane banners flying the shoreline from Sandy Hook in the north to the southern tip in Cape May. For the sixth consecutive year, we are hosting a sampling campaign of blueberries on three Jersey Shore boardwalks in Atlantic City, Seaside Heights and Wildwood. These events have been highly successful, because who doesn’t want free pints of Jersey Fresh blueberries and a Jersey Fresh prize, too? Celebrate with us on National Blueberry Day, July 8 and follow us on social media for more details. 

NJDA also has plenty of Jersey Fresh point-of-purchase materials available to help markets promote that Jersey Fresh is available in your stores. If you have a Jersey Fresh blueberry display in your store, be sure to tag us with #JerseyFresh on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your post to our over 54,000 followers.

In addition to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Jersey Fresh blueberries campaign, the New Jersey Blueberry Growers Association will be featuring a billboard campaign in the Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Northern New Jersey areas to focus on the health benefits of eating fresh blueberries. The timing of this campaign aligns perfectly with some very high-profile soccer (football) matches that will be played in those areas from June through July. The boards will read New Jersey Blueberries. Healthy Goals and will feature the Jersey Fresh logo.

None of this would be possible without you, our retail partners, so we thank you for your continued support of Jersey Fresh produce, especially New Jersey blueberries. Make sure to source these customer favorites from Jersey Fresh growers. If you are looking for help finding a farmer or need some POP materials, please contact the Jersey Fresh team at [email protected]. 

Joe Atchison III is the Assistant Secretary and Director of Marketing & Development for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture

Print
Tagged in:
New Jersey
Berries
Read more

Ben B. Schwartz & Sons sees great opportunity to distribute Michigan produce to other regions

By
Keith Loria

Ben B. Schwartz & Sons is having a great 2026 so far, building on its distribution growth last year, adding to the sales team and expanding its presence to the west side of Michigan.

Trendspotting: Getting produce from here to there

By
Craig Levitt

Getting produce from here to there is vital. Freight may not be the most glamorous part of the supply chain, but it is every bit important as the other aspects. According to C.H. Robinson and its latest Edge Report, North American freight markets face rising structural pressure.

The report stated that the produce season is placing continued pressure on refrigerated transportation networks across North America. While trucks remain available produce shippers are facing less flexibility in key regions. 

EPC Leadership Class tours farm and Philadelphia port

The eighth Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class gained firsthand knowledge of production practices and logistics while touring farms and facilities in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia. The trip was held June 2, and began at the farm of Frank Donio Inc. in Hammonton, NJ.

Westfalia Fruit appoints avocado industry expert Tommy Padilla as president, North America

Westfalia Fruit, a global leader in the avocado industry, announced the appointment of Tommy Padilla as president, North America. 

One of the most respected figures in the global avocado trade, Padilla brings more than 20 years in the global food industry, the majority of it dedicated to avocados, along with a track record of building international sales, shaping export strategy and developing high-performing commercial teams. He arrives at a pivotal moment for Westfalia Fruit as the company accelerates its growth across North America.

NuBerry Farms strengthens position in blueberry category

By
Keith Loria

NuBerry Farms is a fully vertically integrated blueberry supplier with owned farming operations across domestic and international growing regions, providing retail partners with consistent quality, supply security, and year-round program support.

NuBerry Farms oversees approximately 2,600 acres of blueberry production across Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Michigan, supported by packing facilities in Georgia, New Jersey and Michigan to provide customers with consistent supply and quality throughout the year.

Fall Creek expands into raspberries and blackberries with acquisition

Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc., a world-leading blueberry genetics and nursery company, has acquired Berryplant, an Italy-based leader in raspberry and blackberry nursery production, and Berrytech, its dedicated breeding and intellectual property company.

The acquisition strengthens Fall Creek's genetics platform with the addition of raspberries and blackberries while maintaining its global leadership in blueberries and extending the company's ability to serve growers who operate across multiple berry categories.

Copyright © 2025 The Produce News • Covering Fresh Produce Around the Globe Since 1897