Naturipe Farms and Hortifrut are expanding their global berry genetics platform through a new strategic collaboration with Mountain Blue Orchards. This agreement aims to broaden access to premium blueberry varieties while maintaining a long-term focus on raspberry and blackberry innovation.
The partnership integrates advanced external genetics with proprietary breeding, evaluation and commercialization systems. By combining these resources, the companies intend to create a pipeline of fruit varieties that perform consistently across different growing regions. The goal is to provide growers with plants that thrive in specific fields while ensuring retailers and consumers receive the flavor, quality and shelf life they expect.
Under this initiative, Hortifrut gains access to new blueberry selections for markets in the United States, Mexico, Peru and other Latin American countries. This expansion supports the broader objective of bringing high-performing fruit to market more effectively.
Jim Roberts, president of Naturipe Farms, states that the focus remains on providing better outcomes across the entire supply chain. By aligning domestic breeding programs with these global efforts, the companies are positioning themselves to meet rising consumer demand for consistent, high-quality berries throughout the year.