<p>Naturipe Farms is picking up its blueberry production in Chile after cooler weather this spring delayed the development and ripening of most varieties through much of the central valley from Santiago down to the Chillan area. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/production line 2.jpg" alt="PureFlavor2 nov 2013" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Picking since October, Naturipe is past peak production and volumes are declining in the Central North growing areas of Valparaiso, Santiago. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Naturipe has just begun harvest of early varieties (Star, Jewel, O'Neal, Misty, Rocio, Palmetto, Snowchaser and Primadonna) in the Central South VII Region in the Curico/Linares area with a 7 to 10 day delayed in the harvest start date versus last year due to weather.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Mario Flores, Director of Blueberry Product Management, tells AndNowUKnow, "We will see the ramp up of production the last week of November with the peak of harvest in the South Central area in Chillan/Los Angeles during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of December. This means peak arrivals in the 2nd and 3rd weeks of January."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>In an effort to extend the company's sustainability efforts while meeting the needs of organic customers, Naturipe will introduce Earth Cycle 6oz Organic Blueberries. Available in Spring 2014, the plant based fiber (bottom) trays and Flow Wrap Overwrap reduces PET plastics by 85%.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Naturipe also has plans to expand its processing capacity in the next two years to add two new IQF facilities in Chile as well as increase capabilities in its Alma, GA and Delano, CA locations.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Flores notes, "Chile production is coming and we will see good volumes for Jan/Feb/March. December will have fruit for pre-Christmas distribution but most of that would be from air shipments as significant volumes by boat will arrive after Christmas loading dates. Quality of the fruit has not been affected by the frost and has been excellent so far."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Although there has been a delay this season, the company is expecting strong volumes through early March, similar to last year.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.naturipefarms.com/product/blueberries" target="_new"> Naturipe Farms </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
