Curry & Co., based in Brooks, OR, will have increased volumes of blueberries for its 2014 marketing season.

“We have partnered with Driediger Farms out of British Columbia, Canada, and this is going to give us a lot more blueberries during the summer months,” company President Matt Curry told The Produce News. “We are their West Coast representative, and they are known for their quality berries.”

Driediger Farms is a wholesale and retail producer of fresh and IQF frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, currants and rhubarb. Its products are packed and shipped across North America and exported to Asia, South America and Europe.

Curry & Co. expects to see its volume of conventional blueberries increase 20 percent this season. The boost is attributed to additional growing acreage and increased maturity of younger bushes.Curry is pleased with the way the 2014 blueberry season is shaping up, according to Curry, who said, “We’ve had really nice weather, and the crop is going to be early compared to the last several years. We’ve had a nice mixture of warm days and cool evenings, which is great for blueberries. We are looking forward to a great season.”

Conventional volume is expected to increase by approximately 20 percent this season. Curry attributed the increase to additional production acreage and “more bushes coming into production.” The harvest began in mid-June and will continue through the end of July or beginning of August depending upon weather.

“We are already seeing nice sizing on the bushes,” he added. “Curry & Company has been known for its large blueberries, and we’re confident that we’ll have plenty of large blueberries for this season. The outstanding weather is producing great quality fruit, and we keep our fingers crossed that Mother Nature will continue to be kind.”

The majority of the company’s blues are marketed domestically and west of the Mississippi, unless there is a blueberry shortage on the East Coast.

“We are slowly growing our export business and know we have the right product for export markets,” Curry added.

The company has a strong retail base comprised of chains of all sizes. “Our berries work great for regional and local promotions in the Pacific Northwest and are recognized for their nice quality outside of this region,” Curry said. “We do have strong wholesale partners who are very important to our business as well.”

Berries continue to be packed in standard clamshell sizes. “During the peak of the season, we will have heavier movement of 18-ounce and two-pound clamshells,” Curry said.

This season, Curry & Co. will push a two-tier marketing program. “We encourage our customers to offer both a pint or six-ounce clamshell along with an 18-ounce or two-pound clamshell during the peak volumes,” he said. “We need strong promotions to get through the peak, and by offering two different sizes you are providing consumers with the opportunity for a value pack and also for a one- or two-serving size.”