Bloom Fresh™, breeder of table grapes, cherries, and raisins, has opened its state-of-the-art breeding campus, Fruitworks, the Bloom Fresh Discovery Center, in McFarland, California. An inauguration ceremony honoring the opening of the $14 million facility took place on Tuesday and featured local dignitaries, the McFarland High School Pep Band, McFarland Mayor Saul Ayon, and table grape growers from around the world.
The facility is equipped with cutting-edge laboratory environments designed to elevate natural fruit breeding. With specialized labs and research areas, the Discovery Center will facilitate work in developing new fruit varieties and refining breeding techniques.
Fiachra Moloney, CMO, Bloom Fresh with Josep Estiarte, CEO, Bloom Fresh, Steven Kemp Congressman David Valadao's office (CA-22), Mayor Saul Ayon, McFarland, California, Bloom Fresh staff.
"We are truly committed to building a tastier, healthier, and more sustainable future for people around the world using the power of natural breeding," said Josep Estiarte, CEO of Bloom Fresh. "We understand that commitments such as this need real and meaningful investments to back them up and this facility is exactly that. This is our bold and meaningful investment in natural breeding that will have an impact for generations to come."
Field tours at the center's opening.
Key features of the center include:
- Advanced 28,000-square-foot laboratory facilities: The center has state-of-the-art labs that integrate new research and scientific disciplines, providing solutions to both growers and consumers. It's designed to foster a clean and controlled environment, optimizing the development of new grape, cherry, and raisin varieties.
- Research Tools: The center includes 150 acres of test vineyards, 25,000 square feet of greenhouses, and a Post-Harvest Physiology Lab, which will play a role in advancing pott-harvest analysis and rootstock pairing. This infrastructure supports the company's mission to accelerate the introduction of new, sustainable fruit varieties to market.
- Enhanced grower support: By focusing on de-risking new fruit introductions, the center offers increased grower support and comprehensive analysis to ensure improved retailer and consumer experiences.
The center includes 150 acres of test vineyards.
The Discovery Center will serve as one of the company's two major research and breeding hubs, alongside the existing facility in Murcia, Spain. Together, these campuses will drive Bloom Fresh's dynamic processes, promoting advancements in taste, nutrition, sustainability, and global accessibility.
For more information:
Eva Andrio
Bloom Fresh
Tel: +34 638 72 01 37
[email protected]
www.bloomfreshglobal.com