D’Ottavio Farms continues to expand blueberry production

D’Ottavio Farms grows and distributes some of the finest produce in southern New Jersey, and one of its key commodities in the summer months is blueberries.

After a year where blueberries had some unique challenges for most growers, the Vineland, NJ-based company is liking what it sees from this year’s upcoming season.

“It looks like we will have an excellent blueberry crop this season,” said Michael D’Ottavio, president of D’Ottavio Farms. “The weather was perfect this spring for pollination and I expect very good supplies along with great size at our organic and conventional blueberry farms.”

One of the keys to success in the blueberry category is to not just rest on any laurels and continuing driving ahead.

“Every year we research new varieties that will work with our soil and high humidity that we have in the northeast,” D’Ottavio said. “We found great success over the years with varieties like drapers, legacy, top shelf and aurora. Their firmness, size and taste are amazing, but what’s really important is how well they travel and how our customers tell us they love the shelf life that they have.”

That sort of difference and commitment to excellence has helped D’Ottavio Farms over the past decade establish a strong reputation up and down the East Coast for having some of the best size, taste and quality blueberries, while being a go-to producer in New Jersey.

The company continues to think about the future and growing its blueberry production to meet the rising needs of customers.

“Times have changed, and I believe everyone is exercising and eating healthier these days, creating more demand,” D’Ottavio said. “To meet the growing demand for good tasting, quality fruit, we continue to plant an additional 30,000 blueberry bushes yearly. All we can do now is hope the weather cooperates and the market is fair for everyone.”

Photo: Jay Duquette and Anthony D’Ottavio standing in a D’Ottavio Farms organic field of blueberry located in vineland NJ.