On November 25, 2024, The Packer featured us in their latest issue (The Packer, 2024). This recognition of our new Fruitworks Discovery Center in McFarland, California, highlights our ongoing commitment to fruit innovation and leadership in plant breeding.
At BLOOM FRESH™, innovation isn’t just a part of what we do, it’s at the heart of who we are. We’ve worked tirelessly to craft table grapes, cherries, and blueberries that meet the evolving needs of growers, retailers, and consumers alike. With the Fruitworks Discovery Center, a $14 million investment in cutting-edge technology and research, we’ve taken a monumental step forward.
Elevating Natural Breeding
Our Fruitworks Discovery Center is more than just a facility; it’s a hub of possibility. Equipped with advanced labs, greenhouses, and 150 acres of test vineyards, it allows us to accelerate the development of fruit varieties that delight and inspire. As Chris Owens, our head of plant breeding, explains, “We’re moving from a very old, very small lab space — and so our new space is allowing us to really expand the types of activities we can do in-house,”.
Our goal is clear: to provide fruit that combines superior flavor, texture, and nutritional benefits with traits like disease resistance and climate resilience, meeting the needs of growers, retailers, and consumers alike.
Inspiring Through Innovation
Our work goes beyond the fields and labs. It’s about creating joy and excitement through fruit. From pioneering flavors like Cotton Candy grapes to developing antioxidant-rich red-flesh varieties, we’re transforming expectations in the fruit market. Our cherry and blueberry programs are breaking barriers too, introducing low-chill varieties that thrive in warmer climates and expand growing regions.
“We’re trying to push the limits,” Elena Aguaron, BLOOM FRESH™ commercial lead for table grapes, U.S. and Canada added.
We take immense pride in knowing that our efforts inspire trust and anticipation among growers, retailers, and consumers. Every variety we introduce reflects years of meticulous research and a steadfast commitment to quality.
“We might be working on a variety for years — probably six to eight years, once it’s selected and before it gets released commercially — just to make sure that it works in a particular location and that it ticks all of the boxes for the growers, for the marketers, for the retailers and for the consumers,” said Elena Aguaron, BLOOM FRESH™ commercial lead for table grapes, U.S. and Canada.
As our head of plant breeding, Chris Owens explains “As a company, I think we’ve been very successful in terms of developing things that are improved and what people want,” Owens continued. “It’s about making improvements for the grower, but also trying to make improvements that consumers are excited about — that’s what we want. We want excitement from the consumer.”
A Shared Vision for the Future
Collaboration is key to everything we do. With a dedicated global team, we’re building lasting partnerships that ensure successful cultivation and commercialization of our new varieties. Together, we’re not just developing fruit; we’re reshaping what’s possible in our industry.
The Fruitworks Discovery Center is a symbol of our relentless drive for progress. It embodies our belief that, by pushing boundaries, we can lead the way for growers and deliver fruits that bring joy to every table.
Reference
The Packer. (2024, November 25). Bred for success: Inside the BLOOM FRESH™ Fruitworks Discovery Center. Issue 23, 1, 5.
