Naturipe Farms Blueberry Market Share to Increase in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia

Naturipe Farms partner, Munger Farms, has announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with Golden Eagle Farm Group, owned by the Aquilini family of Vancouver, British Columbia. The Aquilini family has several diverse farming operations and are significant growers of blueberries in British Columbia and Washington State. “This addition will complement our current production from Naturipe Farms partner MBG Marketing’s, premier grower base in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon,” says Brian Bocock, vice president of product management for Naturipe Farms. Headquartered in Salinas Calif., Naturipe Farms is grower-owned by Munger Farms, MBG Marketing, Hortifrut and Naturipe Berry Growers. “This significantly boosts our market share in the Pacific Northwest and BC, allowing us to provide domestic and international customers a consistent supply of premium blueberries from this region” adds Bocock. “The joint venture with the Aquilini family will increase our acreage by 4000” says David Munger, co-CEO of Munger Farms. “The Canadian blueberry fields are in full production and the Washington operations will start limited production in 2016. The decision to expand in this region reflects our confidence in the unique Naturipe Farms grower-owned business model, our market leadership, and the synergies amongst the Naturipe grower-owners which enable us to fulfill the growing consumer demand for premium blueberries.”