Gourmet Trading’s Chilean blueberry program will increase to fill growing demand
Gourmet Trading’s Chilean blueberry program will increase to fill growing demand
Gourmet Trading Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, handles conventional and organic blueberries out of Chile. The company is also a leading supplier of other year-round quality fruits and vegetables.
Chloé Varennes, marketing manager for the company, said that conventional blueberries from Chile will run from November through April this season. Its organic blueberry program runs from November to February.
“Gourmet Trading Company plans on increasing its volume of Chilean blueberries again this season,” said Varennes. “While our primary customers for Chilean blueberries include retailers, we also have a diverse customer base that includes foodservice operators, wholesalers and exporters. We distribute our Chilean blueberries from our Los Angeles and Miami facilities.”
She explained that fruit from Regions IV, V, IX, X and XIV will need to be fumigated this season due to the moth issue last season.
“Gourmet Trading Company has anticipated this issue and will have clean fruit from the other regions,” she noted. “The demand for blueberries continues to increase, and as it does our volumes increase accordingly.”
The firm was established in 1982 as a family company importing specialty produce. In 1995 it decided to have a strategic shift from distributor of specialties to grower, packer and shipper of fresh asparagus and blueberries.
“In 2005 Gourmet Trading started its South American blueberry program,” said Varennes. “And in 2013, the company started its Chilean organic blueberry program, which has grown a lot in the past year.”
Today Gourmet Trading Co. is one of the largest importers of Chilean blueberries to the U.S. It also provides logistics services through Gourmet Logistics Co.
“Gourmet Logistics Company has three warehouses conveniently located in Los Angeles, Miami and Calexico, California,” said Varennes. “Gourmet Logistics Company provides customers with a full spectrum of services-from logistics to floral and produce handling.
Varennes also announced that the company has hired Paul Mortanian to a sales position.
“Paul graduated from California State University-Fresno with a degree in agricultural business,” she said. “He grew up in the Central Valley of California and has worked in the produce industry for three years.”