“Even though we do a lot of items, blueberries are one of our biggest, and what we are most recognized for,” said Annie Pape, special projects and brand manager for the Hammonton, NJ-based company. “We’ve done a ton of year-round volume over the last decade or so and even more since we’ve invested in our import farm, but the Jersey season is still a big deal for us.”
A key factor for being successful in the blueberry industry is having the proper infrastructure in place and that’s something that Frank Donio has always been at the forefront of.
“Pre-cooling facilities and temperature-controlled warehouses are essential to maintain the quality of the fruit from field to customer,” Pape said, noting that’s a hallmark of the operations. “The closer you are to the end user, the fresher the fruit will be.”
Another way the company ensures it remains a leader in the segment is by working closely with the New Jerey Blueberry Commission, The United States High Bush Blueberry Council and The North American Blueberry Council.
As of late May, the 2025 blueberry crops were looking solid for the season ahead.
“The bees are out of the blueberry fields, and we had good weather for pollination so we’re off to a good start,” Pape said. “We’re looking at a nice promotable volume of berries in Jersey. We’ve also been expanding our organic program every season. Some are fields that we transitioned into organic, and some were already certified fields that we planted new varieties in. With organic demand still going up that’s something we’re happy to keep building on. Assuming the weather is going to work with us and not against us. we’re feeling really positive about this upcoming season.”
Working in New Jersey has also been integral to the company’s success with growing blueberries.
“New Jersey is home for us,” Pape said. “The company was started here by my great-grandfather in 1933. He started the business across the street from his house and our headquarters has been here ever since, although it looks a lot different and a lot bigger now than it did then. We’re located in a great spot to service the whole Northeast with local product when we’re in season. There’s also such a strong farming tradition in this area and that’s a pretty cool thing to be a part of.”
What’s more, she credits its collection of long tenured employees as a really important part of Frank Donio’s success.
“It’s always been a family business and so many on our team have been working with us for years and years,” she said.
On a different note, a big industry topic that the company has been following has been FSMA 204. “I’m part of our compliance team, so I’ve been pretty deep in the details on this,” Pape said. “With the deadline being pushed back, that’s taken the FDA pressure off but many of our customers are still moving ahead with their requirements. We make a point to be ahead of these things, so we’ve been working on this for a while and we’re ready to go.”
