Partnership creates Naturipe Foods LLC
Partnership creates Naturipe Foods LLC
Four leading berry producers -- Michigan-based blueberry grower MBG Marketing; Santiago, Chile-based berry-growing corporation Hortifrut S.A.; Delano, CA-based Munger Bros. Farms; and Salem, OR-based Pan-American Berry Growers LLC -- have banded together to form Naturipe Foods LLC, a value-added berry-marketing company.
Pan-American Berry Growers was not previously part of sister fresh-pack company Naturipe Farms and is new to the mix.
The partnership brings an expanded grower vision to the operation, said Maurice Moragne, vice president of sales and marketing for Naturipe Foods. He said that Naturipe Foods is trying to position itself as a one-stop shop for berries.
Headquartered in Olympia, WA, the new company will leverage the brand strength of Naturipe Farms and constitutes one of the larger grower-owned producers and marketers of value-added berries in North America.
With the partnership, Naturipe Farms further enhances its role as the dominant provider source for blueberries. Mr. Moragne said that Naturipe Farms accounts for one in every four fresh blueberry sales in the world. The company provides traceability, sustainability and seed-to-customer production management of its berries. The creation of Naturipe Foods offers customers year-round access to Naturipe Farms berry products.
In addition to having one of the larger market shares of blueberries available in North America, Naturipe Foods annually will grow, process and source other berries, including blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. The partnership has created one point of contact for product consistency, tailor- made customer solutions and an expanded product line that includes individually quick frozen, purees, concentrates, powders and extracts- essences.
"Frozen is entry level for value-added products," Mr. Moragne said. Dehydrated blueberries are sold at retail now. With the creation of Naturipe Foods, the company will introduce dehydrated blueberries to "foodservice and industrial" operations, Mr. Moragne said.
There are more than 1,000 grower-owners in the organization, with locations that span the Western Hemisphere from Chile to Canada. These various locations and growing seasons allow Naturipe Foods to offer customers berry products at their peak, year round. The organization also maintains the ability to work with customers to source and distribute other non-berry fruits.
Naturipe Foods will launch a new web site likely by late August. For consumers, the site will include recipes and product education.
Pan-American Berry Growers was not previously part of sister fresh-pack company Naturipe Farms and is new to the mix.
The partnership brings an expanded grower vision to the operation, said Maurice Moragne, vice president of sales and marketing for Naturipe Foods. He said that Naturipe Foods is trying to position itself as a one-stop shop for berries.
Headquartered in Olympia, WA, the new company will leverage the brand strength of Naturipe Farms and constitutes one of the larger grower-owned producers and marketers of value-added berries in North America.
With the partnership, Naturipe Farms further enhances its role as the dominant provider source for blueberries. Mr. Moragne said that Naturipe Farms accounts for one in every four fresh blueberry sales in the world. The company provides traceability, sustainability and seed-to-customer production management of its berries. The creation of Naturipe Foods offers customers year-round access to Naturipe Farms berry products.
In addition to having one of the larger market shares of blueberries available in North America, Naturipe Foods annually will grow, process and source other berries, including blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. The partnership has created one point of contact for product consistency, tailor- made customer solutions and an expanded product line that includes individually quick frozen, purees, concentrates, powders and extracts- essences.
"Frozen is entry level for value-added products," Mr. Moragne said. Dehydrated blueberries are sold at retail now. With the creation of Naturipe Foods, the company will introduce dehydrated blueberries to "foodservice and industrial" operations, Mr. Moragne said.
There are more than 1,000 grower-owners in the organization, with locations that span the Western Hemisphere from Chile to Canada. These various locations and growing seasons allow Naturipe Foods to offer customers berry products at their peak, year round. The organization also maintains the ability to work with customers to source and distribute other non-berry fruits.
Naturipe Foods will launch a new web site likely by late August. For consumers, the site will include recipes and product education.
