NuBerry Farms ready for New Jersey blueberry season
NuBerry Farms owns berry fields in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan and Washington, which allows the company to have control of the quality from the moment it is planted into the ground.
“During import season, we work with growers out of Peru and Chile that we have developed relationships with over 30 years to bring in only the top-quality varieties,” said Ali Dandrea, who works in sales for NuBerry’s Northeast office. “We bring in both bulk and pre-pack so we can offer our clients special packs and ensure quality with each order.”
Working in New Jersey presents different opportunities and challenges than the company’s other growing areas.
“The climate in New Jersey is like Michigan but the winters are milder,” said John Conner, chief operating officer of the company. “Berry production on high chill varieties in New Jersey takes longer to develop than in the Southeast. In the Southeast, we have production in 2-3 years where in New Jersey and Michigan it takes 5-6 years to hit the same production numbers.”
While it’s still early for actual numbers, the early signs for New Jersey berries looks strong.
“The New Jersey crop looks great for us and we are hopeful the market will stabilize before we begin harvesting in New Jersey,” Conner said. “Georgia has had an excellent season in terms of production, but the market is struggling with some lower than anticipated pricing because of problematic forecasting,”
To highlight its blueberries, the company utilizes bright yellow and light green labels to help NuBerry Farms’ market presence and add to consumer recognition.
“NuBerry Farms puts a lot of time and effort into our marketing so to help it stand out by a color on the shelf is great,” Dandrea said. “For a consumer to buy our blueberries because they see that bright color is what we want, but to have a customer love the quality and taste and come back looking for our label is how we create brand loyalty.”
Looking ahead, the company has big plans for expansion and growth in the years to come.
“We are expanding with farm ownership in the Northwest, Peru and Mexico,” Conner said.
Keith Loria
About Keith Loria | 
A graduate of the University of Miami, Keith Loria is a D.C.-based award-winning journalist who has been writing for major publications for close to 20 years on topics as diverse as real estate, food and sports. He started his career with the Associated Press and has held high editorial positions at magazines aimed at healthcare, sports and technology. When not busy writing, he can be found enjoying time with his wife, Patricia, and two daughters, Jordan and Cassidy.
