Bob Von Rohr, director of customer relations for Sunny Valley International, headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, told The Produce News that the company’s primary blueberry import programs are from Argentina and Chile, and it brings some product in from Uruguay.

“Timing on our Argentina deal is similar to last year,” said Mr. Von Rohr. “Because we don’t source from the early production areas, we will start in early October with our first air shipments. Peak volumes will pivot around the few weeks before and few weeks after the mid-November time frame.

“We are anticipating that our blueberry volumes from Argentina and Chile will be between 15 to 20 percent higher than last year,” he continued. “I feel that we absolutely do have a market for the increase because most of the time the demand for blueberries exceeds the supply. There will likely be short pockets when too many berries hit the market at the same time, but it will quickly smooth out and prices should stay level.”

One of Sunny Valley International’s blueberry fields in the Osorno, Chile, region.On Argentina product, Sunny Valley uses the “South Atlantic” label. Pack size options will be 4.4-ounce clamshells packed 12 to a case, six-ounce clamshells packed 12 to a case, pints packed 12 to a case, and 18-ounce clamshells packed eight to a case and 12 to a case.

Mr. Von Rohr said that Chilean blueberry air shipments can be a little more sporadic. In the past, one of Sunny Valley’s Chilean grower groups has shipped by air even sooner than its Argentina supplier. This year, light air shipments out of Chile are expected to start in mid-October, followed with vessel container loads coming in December. Mr. Von Rohr said Chile is also reporting a strong crop, and he expects to see a 20 percent increase from the country this year.

The primary labels used by Sunny Valley on its Chilean blueberries are “South Pacific,” “Agricamex,” “Cato” and “Xfru,” although it also uses other labels. Mr. Von Rohr said pack sizes from Chile will be 4.4-ounce clamshells by air shipment, followed by six-ounce clamshells, pints and 18-ounce clamshells in containers.

“Our main air arrivals comes through Miami,” said Mr. Von Rohr.  “We will also bring some supply in through JFK to Glassboro, so we will be shipping some from New Jersey,” he added.

Transitions from air to container will happen when volumes really hit in early December, and continue through March. He noted that containers take about two and a half weeks to arrive in the United States. Peak production is containerized and runs from early-January through late-February.

“Our containers arrive via vessels into the ports of Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York,” said Mr. Von Rohr.

“Our primary grower groups are those that run a little later in the season,” he continued. “There is some production in northern Chile that comes on earlier, but our peak is from the Osorno, Chile area. This region of Chile has shown to be well adapted to produce high-quality blueberries.

He added that Eastern Propak, also in Glassboro, which packs for Sunny Valley, has the capability to repack the blueberries if necessary, and in special pack sizes.

“It’s a strength that we have in that we can convert to different pack styles or repack blueberries,” said Mr. Von Rohr. “When we ship blueberries from New Jersey, we’re able to offer good delivery with high-quality berries.”

Sunny Valley’s organic Chilean blueberry program has grown significantly over the years. Its organic season starts via air freight in early November and runs to mid-January.

“We then transition to containers, which extends through the end of the season in March,” said Mr. Von Rohr. “Organic pack sizes are 4.4-ounce, six-ounce and pints.”

He added, “Our growers follow a comprehensive food-safety program that includes third-party audits and traceability.”