Photos: Berries Paradise.

What began in 2008 as a 20-hectare blackberry project in Tuxpan, Jalisco, has grown into one of Mexico’s leading berry companies. Today, Berries Paradise manages more than 1,500 hectares, including company-owned production under ABA Value and partner growers, with a strategy focused on supplying fresh berries 52 weeks a year.

On the production side, ABA Value currently operates 670 hectares, including 420 hectares of blueberries and 250 hectares of raspberries. The company plans to expand that area to 850 hectares over the coming years. “The goal is to increase our blueberry acreage from the current 420 hectares to 600 over the next four to five years, while maintaining 250 hectares of raspberries,” Paco Ortiz, CEO of ABA Value, told Blueberries News.

To achieve that goal, the company plans to expand by 30 to 40 hectares annually, adding between 20 and 30 hectares of new orchards each year while allocating around 10 hectares to varietal replacement, initially replacing Biloxi and later Atlas. Genetics plays a key role in that strategy. “We want to consolidate our production with Sekoya varieties,” Ortiz said.

Blueberries to drive future growth

Beyond expanding its acreage, the group has an ambitious growth vision for the coming years. “During the 2025/26 season, we produced and marketed more than 20,000 metric tons of fresh berries. Our vision is to double that volume within the next seven years,” said César Ortiz, CEO of Berries Paradise.

According to Ortiz, blueberries will be the main driver of that growth, as the company sees the crop as Mexico’s greatest commercial opportunity. “We believe blueberries have the greatest potential because they complement the supply from Peru and Chile exceptionally well, fitting into a highly attractive market window for North America, where demand continues to grow steadily. Last season, Peru exported nearly 200,000 metric tons of blueberries, while Mexico exported around 75,000 metric tons. That gap highlights the enormous potential the country has and the opportunity ahead of us to continue expanding,” he said.

A record-breaking season

Looking back on the latest season, César Ortiz said both the company and the industry delivered strong results. “It was a very good season for Berries Paradise and for the industry as a whole. Blueberries grew by 17%, while raspberries and blackberries increased between 25% and 30%. Strawberries were the only crop to decline, mainly due to factors unrelated to productivity,” he said.

Although higher supply put some downward pressure on prices, Ortiz noted that efficient growers were still able to remain profitable. “Those who managed their costs effectively and operated efficiently were able to generate profits,” he said.

For Berries Paradise, the season also marked a major milestone.“For the first time, we surpassed 20,000 metric tons of fresh berries marketed. We had never reached that volume before, and it represents a historic achievement for the company. Today, it positions us among Mexico’s top three berry exporters to global markets,” he said.

Of the total volume marketed, approximately 45% consisted of blueberries, 35% raspberries, and 20% blackberries.

A new chapter for the company

Alongside its production growth, Berries Paradise is preparing to launch a new corporate identity as part of a broader transformation aimed at strengthening its international presence. “We are relaunching our brand because we are evolving from a regional company into a global one. We want to become more vertically integrated within the market, honor our history, and at the same time build a value proposition that is ready for the future,” César Ortiz explained.

The executive added that the process also includes redefining the company’s brand architecture, corporate narrative, and value proposition. “All of this work is designed to better serve our customers and the end consumer. We are taking the company to the next level, and as a family and as a business, we are truly excited about what lies ahead,” he concluded.