“As the USHBC Council alternate member, I was excited to assist with this effort along with my counterpart, council member Paul Macrie from Macrie Brothers Blueberry Farm,” said Chelsea Consalo, president and a member of the fourth generation of the Consalo family to operate the business that was founded in 1927. “The regional engagement breakfast was a wonderful opportunity for New Jersey growers to strengthen connections and engage with USHBC President Kasey Cronquist and USHBC Vice President of Engagement and Education, Amanda Griffin, here in our home state.”
Echoing the value of the event, Cronquist noted that USHBC’s time in New Jersey was nothing short of inspiring. “As part of USHBC’s regional engagement outreach, we had the opportunity to visit growers and industry stakeholders in the region to foster collaboration, share insights and program updates and explore new opportunities for the category,” he said. “Most importantly, our time in New Jersey gave us a chance to simply connect and listen to industry members on the issues that matter to them most. We are extremely grateful to everyone who helped us coordinate this meeting and look forward to hosting future events.”
The mission of the USHBC is to grow consumer demand for blueberries by uniting industry stakeholders through research, promotions and resources that strengthen their ability to compete in the global marketplace. Their vision is to be the global leader in knowledge, programs and content used by the industry to grow the value of blueberries and empower the industry to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit.
“By visiting us in New Jersey and meeting with our fellow growers, the USHBC leadership was able to provide invaluable insight into their work on behalf of the industry and answer questions about the future strategic plan for the blueberry category,” Consalo added. “Blueberries have long been a crop Consalo Family Farms has been known for and have also been a personal passion of mine. In fact, I still spend my summers managing our New Jersey operation to ensure our blueberries continue to be of the highest quality and taste.”
In addition to serving as a USHBC alternate council member, Consalo also chairs the USHBC Food Safety Task Force, is treasurer for the New Jersey Blueberry Growers Association, and sits on the NABC’s board of directors and awards committee.
“My involvement in these organizations has allowed me to make an impact on an industry I care deeply about, and it has been inspiring to connect with people who are equally passionate about the future of farming and making blueberries the world’s favorite fruit. Together, we have worked diligently to develop strategies that support local growers while enhancing the visibility of blueberries in retail stores and beyond,” said Consalo.
For Consalo, working with USHBC brings together many of the things she loves about her professional life. “I am very proud to continue to represent Consalo Family Farms, especially in this category,” she said. “As a vertically integrated company, we understand that everything starts on the farm. As we look to the future, we are continually exploring new ways to enhance our crops and bring the freshest, most delicious berries to our customers.”
Photo: Denny Doyle, Paul Galletta, Chelsea Consalo, Amanda Griffin, Paul Macrie and Kasey Cronquist.