Fall brings opportunities in the berry category from Latin America for Always Fresh, much of which be on display at booth #1239 at the IFPA show in Anaheim.
Over the last four years, Always Fresh has worked with its Latin American partners to strengthen their position across all regions to offer consistent, high-quality berries starting in September through to late Spring.
“The strength of our business over the past two seasons, the core of our programs, has been in the blueberry and strawberry categories. With a rapidly growing supply from all growing regions, most notably California, our strawberry strength is also supported in Florida. The Peruvian and Pacific Northwest blueberries that complement our strengths are in the U.S. Southeast and Chile. What is happening right now for us is in Mexico and it’s exciting to watch the steps we’re taking there,” says Evan Pence, director of procurement.
Pence says the strength of its business over the past two seasons has been in the blueberry and strawberry categories.
“In Mexico, it started a few years back by establishing a vertically integrated raspberry farm in Jalisco and taking the first steps to plant prospective new varieties of raspberries. It has taken off quickly from there,” says Matthew Giddings, COO. “Now we’re looking at rapid growth across the blueberry and blackberry categories from the same region and the results have been tremendous.”
Last month, the company strengthened its position in Mexico by hiring Antonio Pereyra as vice president of Latin America and International Sales. Pereyra has been a key figure in the Mexican berry industry for years and will split his time between the home office in Plant City, Florida and the Mexican office in Guadalajara.
“Antonio’s addition allows us to consolidate partnerships with growers and exporters and strengthen our business model in Mexico to continue to grow and not lose focus on supply quality and consistency. Secondly, it allows us to begin considering exporting our fruit into the United States but also to explore, for the first time ever, the Asian and European markets,” says Giddings.
This fall, Always Fresh will have increased volumes of blueberries, blackberries and strawberries. The company is already a U.S. supplier of jumbo blueberries and continues to be one of the largest Florida strawberry shippers. “Our goal is to align with the right growers in Mexico, the right varieties and pursue every avenue to strengthen Mexico’s position as a key ally to the U.S. market and build a supply complimenting our retail presence,” says Pereyra. “I’ve worked with Always Fresh for years and have been a close friend of the team. I’m excited to push the program in the right direction.”
For more information:
Evan Pence
Always Fresh Farms
Tel: +1 863-401-3404
[email protected]
www.alwaysfresh.com