<p><strong>Grand Junction, MI</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">With Michigan blueberry harvest about to begin, South Haven Mayor Bob Burr helped kick off the local harvest by visiting Michigan Blueberry Growers Association/MBG Marketing Board member Chris Hodgman and the VP of Product Management for Naturipe Farms Brian Bocock. The Michigan Blueberry Growers Association is a founding partner of Naturipe farms, which manages the sales, marketing, and distribution of its blueberries.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Freezes late in the season impacted plant growth in the Grand Junction, MI region and caused some fruit loss, but most growers were able to protect their crop by use of irrigation water to avoid significant damage to the blooms. Chris Hodgman states, “This year has had its share of challenges; however, the berries we are harvesting for the fresh market are ‘eating’ very well, and we maintain optimistic about the balance to the season.” He adds, “We are seeing manageable volumes being harvested this week and the growers’ prices reflect strong market demand.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Michigan Blueberry Growers Association and Naturipe Farms teamed up with the Michigan Ag Council to sponsor the Pure Michigan program to promote the blueberry and developed a blueberry specific logo available to all Michigan blueberry growers. Brian Bocock states, “We will feature the Pure Michigan Blueberry logo on our labels so that the retailers in Michigan and the surrounding states can demonstrate their support of local blueberry growers. In addition, we are getting requests from restaurant chains who also want to feature locally grown produce.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mayor Burr adds, “This is a crucial time of year for our family farmers and the communities. Our local and regional economies rely on a successful blueberry harvest season and it is a source of Michigan pride when we start to see our blueberries shipped throughout the country.” </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><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/" target="_new"> Naturipe Farms</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
