Gem-Pack Berries Strengthens Commitment to Global Markets Through Expanded Export Program; Thomas Smith and Chaz Yamamoto Comment

SANTA MONICA, CA - Targeted growth within the export channel is a key pillar of Gem-Pack Berries’ long-term sales and growth strategy. Thomas Smith, Vice President of Sales, Foodservice and Export, and Chaz Yamamoto, Director of Export Sales, shared an update on Gem-Pack’s expanding export program.

While Gem-Pack has maintained a strong presence as a berry exporter for many years, the company is now accelerating its investment in this channel by expanding both its export grade product assortment and its reach across international markets.

Gem-Pack is broadening its line of export-quality berries to include strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, each carefully selected and packed to meet the high standards of global customers. This expanded assortment allows Gem-Pack to serve a wider range of international partners while reinforcing its position as a trusted, full-line supplier.

One of Gem-Pack’s greatest strengths in the export space is its reputation as a preferred year round supplier. Consistency of supply is critical for international customers, and Gem-Pack’s integrated growing, packing, and logistics capabilities enable reliable delivery across multiple seasons and origins.

We maintain crop redundancy by growing in multiple regions across the United States and Mexico, allowing overlapping harvests and the flexibility to shift operations between regions. This strategy minimizes the impact of adverse weather conditions and ensures a continuous, high quality supply for our customers.

This reliability has been built over years of experience serving export markets and continues to differentiate Gem-Pack from many domestic-focused shippers. Export packing presents a unique set of challenges that not every grower or shipper is equipped or willing to take on. Export fruit is not simply an extension of the domestic program; it is a completely separate harvested item. Often, dedicated fields, specialized harvest crews, and export-focused facilities are required to ensure fruit meets the demands of extended transit times and international quality expectations. Gem-Pack’s long-standing expertise in this area allows the company to consistently execute at a high level.

Adding to the complexity, each international market and often each customer maintains its own specifications for color, sizing, ripeness, labeling, and packaging. Successfully navigating these nuances requires coordination and expertise across every level of the organization, from field management and quality assurance to packing, sales, and logistics.

Gem-Pack’s experienced teams understand these requirements and are adept at delivering customized solutions that meet diverse global standards.

“A lot of teamwork and communication goes into getting our product exported, from the growers and food safety to cooler employees, receiving and shipping, and our freight forwarders. Every step involves a high level of detail and precision to ensure successful delivery,” shared Yamamoto in a press release.

One of Gem-Pack’s biggest export markets is Japan, which has been our longest standing partnership with exports. This partnership began with Tim Miyasaka and Well-Pict, as he led the Japan Export Program. Today, the company continues to honor his legacy and is working to expand the export program.

Gem-Pack’s biggest growth opportunities include Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Because of the added labor, infrastructure, and expertise required, export berries are a premium offering and must command a premium price to execute properly. Gem-Pack views this not as a barrier, but as a reflection of the value delivered to customers of exceptional quality, consistency, and reliability in some of the world’s most demanding markets.

As Gem-Pack Berries continues to expand its export program, the company remains focused on strategic, sustainable growth partnering with customers around the world who value quality, expertise, and a supplier built for the long haul.