Family Farming Meets Sustainable Innovation for Year-Round Freshness

Naturipe Farms is a grower-owned produce company that traces its origins back to 1917 and has become notable in the industry for its global partnership approach.

Rather than being one consolidated farm, Naturipe comprises four different fresh berry growers operating across diverse locations.

This model allows the brand to maintain a consistent supply of berries year-round by harnessing varied climates throughout North and South America.

The growers under the Naturipe label share labor, resources, and expertise, striving to strengthen local farm communities while adhering to sustainable agriculture principles.

Rather than simply seeking commercial success, the farmers present themselves as stewards of the land, putting emphasis on caring for nature and ensuring the continuity of production for future generations.

From the beginning, Naturipe Farms has emphasized family farming.

Some of its partners oversee large estates, while others manage much smaller plots, yet they all commit to environmental harmony.

This sentiment is reflected in the notion that the best thing a farmer can leave on a field is a “shadow,” which serves as a reminder that closely monitoring each plot is the key to ensuring healthy crops.

By marrying technology and traditional farming skills, Naturipe aims to preserve the essence of working with nature rather than against it, a philosophy that extends to packaging choices and distribution processes.

Although best known for their berries, Naturipe has broadened its offerings over time to include avocados, grown in countries like Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile, as well as cranberries cultivated in North America.

The brand highlights that it provides both conventional and organic fruit, with a particular emphasis on its leadership in the production of organic blueberries.

Many of these organic farms meet the rigorous USDA National Organic Program standards, demonstrating a dedication to biodiversity, soil integrity, and ecological balance.

Additionally, Naturipe supports Fair Trade Certified farms in places such as Chile, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.

The Fair Trade program ensures that participating growers and workers meet certain social and environmental standards, and Naturipe collaborates with these farms to include them in its broader initiatives.

Today, Naturipe Farms’ global reach and year-round production capabilities shape its current status.

Much of its appeal lies in a strong reliance on the most suitable growing regions for different fruit varieties, ensuring that, for instance, strawberries can be harvested even in winter months.

The company’s communications consistently point out how it leverages different climates from Mexico to California to maintain a steady flow of produce like raspberries and strawberries.

Throughout the year, blueberries are sourced from sites in North America and Canada, while winter demands are met by cultivation in Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, and Mexico.

The company has made notable developments in its product lines, particularly regarding blackberries and greenhouse-grown strawberries.

For blackberries, the brand has introduced Sweet Selections Blackberries, offering a proprietary “Fenomenal” variety grown in Mexico.

To meet the needs of retailers and consumers, these Sweet Selections Blackberries are available in three pack sizes: a 6 oz. option, a 10 oz. standard size, and a 12 oz. club pack.

Naturipe positions this variety as a response to increasing consumer demand for high-quality, sweet blackberries, and the fruit is cultivated using what the company calls sustainable practices.

The company is working on its third season at a controlled environment greenhouse in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, where strawberries are grown with minimal environmental impact.

Naturipe Farm’s products

The operation is powered by 100% solar energy, employs recycled water systems, and features advanced temperature controls.

At Naturipe Farms, the ongoing quest focuses on improving product quality and preserving the environment in a sustainable way

Naturipe expects to quadruple the supply of these greenhouse-grown strawberries in the 2024-2025 season, hoping to offer a premium product to retailers during the months when field-grown strawberries are less readily available in many places.

By highlighting the sweetness and flavor consistency of these berries, Naturipe aims to fill what it sees as a gap in the winter market.

Part of the reason why Naturipe’s strategies attract attention is the company’s integration of tradition and innovation.

On the one hand, it promotes the farmer-focused vision it has held since the early 20th century, revolving around family farms and the principle of working in close collaboration.

On the other hand, it embraces modern technologies in breeding programs, greenhouses, and global distribution.

The Sweet Selections Blackberries demonstrate selective breeding endeavors, while the greenhouse strawberries illustrate advanced horticultural practices that reduce dependence on external climate conditions.

Naturipe’s approach to branding emphasizes consistent produce quality, support for local communities, and a devotion to careful land stewardship.

It is evident that the brand has carved out a reputation for delivering fresh fruit across a wide geography, accommodating changing consumer tastes for organic and Fair Trade Certified products, and expanding into new territories like the greenhouse sector.

Although it remains a key player in the berry market, the company’s range now includes avocados and cranberries, indicating both strategic adaptation and an effort to maintain year-round relevance with a larger array of offerings.

Naturipe Farms stands as a partnership of growers aiming to preserve old-world agrarian ideals while making use of modern techniques.

Since its founding over a century ago, the company has sought to keep pace with evolving market demands for sustainable, fresh produce, and the success of recent expansions in blackberries and greenhouse strawberries suggests that it continues to find new ways to satisfy both retailers and end consumers.

Its long history, global network, and varied product lines position it as a noteworthy example of how a traditional producer can navigate contemporary agriculture’s challenges and opportunities without losing sight of its foundational principles.