Vanguard Group International celebrates its first blueberry harvest in Peru

Following the success of Vanguard Group International's table grape operations, the company is expanding into blueberries and is celebrating the start of its first harvest in its Peruvian farm.

"We recognized a unique opportunity to channel new efforts into developing a fully compliant, vertically integrated operation from the ground up," explained the company in a press release. "This expansion into blueberries is a milestone we are incredibly proud of, as it creates year-round employment and development opportunities for our local communities.

A new chapter for Vanguard growth in Peru

The company said it set itself the goal to achieve a 12-month supply cycle, for which they bet on what they called "one of the most ideal agricultural regions in the world."

"Our new farm is located in Pisco, Peru, just a few kilometers north of our current table grape production in Villacurí, Ica," the release read. 

Just as the industry transitioned to new table grape genetics years ago, Vanguard recognized the same need in the blueberry category, so it set out to find "varieties that offer an exceptional consumer experience and premium fruit quality without sacrificing shelf life."

Vanguard's initial planting expands 1,375 acres, featuring primarily Fall Creek’s Apex. The rest of the area holds IQ Berries' MegaEarly, MegaCrisp, and MegaGem, which the company said are showing outstanding traits and receiving great reviews.

"All four varieties consistently yield sizes of 18 mm or larger for up to 70 percent of the crop. This allows us to comfortably fulfill both traditional and jumbo SKUs for major retailers," Vanguard explained. 

And this is only the beginning. The firm said it has secured an additional 2,223 acres for future expansion in the area.

Worldwide shipments starting in June

As Vanguard's maiden Peruvian harvest enters its first days, the company said it would maintain availability through late December, with plans to expand as plantings strengthen.

"As our plants mature over the coming years, this harvest window will expand even further, running from mid-May to early February," the release reads. 

The firm explained that sales and distribution will flow through Vanguard Direct in the US and Canada, and  Vanguard International in all other global markets, with air freight available for late June arrivals, primarily to cater to high demand in the Far East.

US shipments will begin arriving in late July, the company explained, with the early start of the season allowing it to offer a premium, reliable sourcing alternative.

"As our fields reach full production, our late-season harvests will keep Peruvian blueberries on shelves until Mexican supply takes over, ultimately eliminating the need to bridge the gap with fruit from other origins," said the Vanguard. "We expect the majority of our harvest to supply our core retail partners during peak demand windows. We are excited to share this new premium harvest with the world."

*All images courtesy of Vanguard.

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