Berry Fresh Prepares for a Strong Oregon Season with Expanded Proprietary Varieties and First U.S. Sweet Karoline® Harvest; Darren Sinn and Jyoti Bhogal Comment

LOS ANGELES, CA - As temperatures rise across the Pacific Northwest, Oregon blueberry fields have transitioned from delicate white blooms to fruit that is ripening into the flavorful berries consumers look forward to each summer. As the California season winds down, Berry Fresh is preparing for another strong Oregon season, a key component of the company's growing year-round blueberry supply program.

"This is an especially exciting year for our Oregon team," said Darren Sinn, Vice President of Supply Chain & Operations at Berry Fresh and an Oregon resident, in the recent release. "Over the past couple of years, we've invested heavily in premium, flavor-focused proprietary varieties, and we're beginning to see those investments come to life."

Berry Fresh is expanding its summer blueberry offering with additional plantings of Sekoya® genetics, including SekoyaCrunch®, SekoyaNova®, and SekoyaFiesta®. “These varieties were developed specifically for Oregon and are elevating the blueberry category during an early-season window that has traditionally been dominated by legacy varieties,” said Sinn. “They deliver the flavor and eating experience consumers are increasingly looking for.” The Sekoya varieties are expected to increase production while further strengthening Berry Fresh's ability to supply customers with premium blueberries during one of the industry's most important consumption periods.

Berry Fresh's Oregon operation has become one of the cornerstones of the company's North American supply network. Situated along the scenic Santiam River, the farm and its state-of-the-art packing facility have welcomed customers and industry partners for years while continuing to scale production and operational capabilities. In 2025, Berry Fresh packed more than 15 million pounds of blueberries, representing over 25% of Oregon's fresh blueberry supply.

In addition to its blueberry program, Berry Fresh is preparing for another milestone in Oregon this season. For the first time, the company's Sweet Karoline® blackberries will be harvested commercially in the United States.

"The growth of the Sweet Karoline® blackberry program has exceeded our expectations," said Jyoti Bhogal, Managing Director of Berry Fresh. "Consumers genuinely love the product, and that enthusiasm continues to create new opportunities for both Berry Fresh and our retail partners."

Following significant growth over the past five years, Sweet Karoline® blackberries have become a recognized premium blackberry offering. To further expand availability, Berry Fresh has established test plots across multiple U.S. growing states. Oregon's 2026 crop will serve as the first larger-scale domestic harvest as the company evaluates future expansion opportunities.

"Expanding Sweet Karoline® is a natural next step," Bhogal added. "The variety is helping drive blackberry category growth while introducing more consumers to a consistently great eating experience."

With continued investments in premium proprietary varieties and strong expectations for the season ahead, Berry Fresh is ready to bring the best of Oregon's harvest to customers and consumers across the country. Harvest is expected to begin soon in mid-June, with fresh Oregon blueberries and Sweet Karoline® blackberries arriving throughout the summer.

To learn more about Berry Fresh’s growing Oregon program, visit the team at Booth #417 at the Organic Produce Summit this July in Monterey, CA.

Berry Fresh is a leading year-round grower and marketer of premium blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries to customers in the Americas.