Located in western Mexico, with operations across the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima, Berries Paradise has established itself as one of the country’s leading companies in the production and international distribution of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
Speaking with Blueberries News, Paco Ortiz, founder of the company, highlighted the strong performance achieved during the season.
“We have grown by 53% in volume compared to the previous season. Berries Paradise’s growth is well above that of Mexico’s berry industry as a whole. This has been driven largely by the introduction of new genetics and the favorable weather conditions we experienced throughout the season,” Ortiz explained.
However, he noted that weather conditions also created significant production challenges.
“Disease pressure, particularly from larvae and rust, has been one of the main issues caused by this year’s climatic conditions. During the Mexican autumn and the beginning of the year, high relative humidity levels created favorable conditions for these problems to develop,” Ortiz said
The United States, Mexico, and Asia Lead Commercial Opportunities
Regarding destination markets, Ortiz highlighted the strategic role of the United States in driving the growth of Mexico’s blueberry industry.
“In the case of blueberries, the United States has been a key market due to the strong elasticity of demand and the commercial window that Mexico enjoys, which aligns with periods of peak production,” he explained.
Ortiz also emphasized the potential of the domestic market and the importance of maintaining a presence in emerging destinations.
“Mexico offers tremendous growth potential, while Asia remains a niche market where it is essential for us to be present. We must also keep a close eye on Europe, which grew by 34% thanks to Peru’s previous season and will eventually become a major consumption market,” he added.
Quality, Flavor, and Consistency: The Industry’s Greatest Challenges
Regarding price performance, Ortiz noted that the market showed a positive trend, with price increases at specific points during the season driven by increasingly demanding consumer demand.
“Overall, prices remained firm, with increases recorded at certain moments throughout the season. This reflects growing demand and the impact Peru has had by delivering consistency, flavor, and quality, largely thanks to the adoption of new genetics,” he said.
Finally, the founder of Berries Paradise emphasized that these attributes will be critical to the future development of the industry.
“Quality, flavor, and consistency will undoubtedly be the main challenges as the industry continues to grow in volume. The key will be achieving an increasingly efficient operation while maintaining excellence and consistency throughout the entire production chain,” Ortiz concluded.
