<p>Peterson Farms Inc., the largest privately owned fruit processor in Michigan, has been named McDonald's USA Supplier of the Year according to Michigan Live. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"We are all very proud and honored to receive this award from McDonald's. We have had a strong, positive relationship with McDonald's for more than a decade and we look forward to growing that relationship in the coming years," said Peterson Farms Chairman Earl Peterson in a statement.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Peterson Farms, which processes fruits from more than 500 U.S. and Canadian farms, has a long-standing relationship with McDonalds. Beginning in 2001, the company became a blueberry supplier for McDonald's USA and Canada. They have received two McDonald's Teamwork Awards in 2004 and 2005 when they became a supplier for cherries, blueberries, sliced apples and grapes. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Pancho Gonazalez, Vice President and General Manager of McDonald's Michigan region says, "Those of us in the McDonald's family all know that it is no simple task to become a supplier to one of the world's largest restaurant organizations, and Peterson Farms has stood out as the best in the country." </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The company currently supplies McDonald's restaurants nationwide with fruits including apples, blueberries and cherries used in menu items such as apple slices, fruit and yogurt parfaits, McCafe Smoothies and Fruit & Maple Oatmeal.</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.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/08/shelbys_peterson_farms_named_m.html"_new">McDonalds</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
