November 2020 - 41

BLUEBERRY
new technology and development to the
blueberry industry. Makara also served
as president of the North American
Blueberry Committee for two years.
In receiving the award, Makara said, " I
believe that the U.S. Highbush Blueberry
Council has achieved this 20-year key
milestone as a result of the dedication
and forward-thinking philosophy of its
members, most of whom are still NABC
growers and key participants. Since
my first (North American Blueberry
Council) NABC meeting in 1983, I've
had the privilege to be mentored by many
founding members and past presidents
of the NABC. It was their welcoming
philosophy of inclusivity, and my
perception of their true and honest intent
to share ideas that attracted me to this
organization. It was always a pleasure to
attend. ... The importance of the USDA
marketing order enabling health research
and other initiatives to propel the USHBC
to its well-recognized stature in the food
industry in North America and the world
should be greatly appreciated. "
John Shelford of Naturipe Farms
was honored in the category of Frozen
Blueberry Products.
USHBC noted that Shelford has spent
more than four decades in the blueberry
business, joining Michigan Blueberry
Growers (MBG) Association in 1976 as
assistant manager. In 1983, he later became
general manager and vice president of
the association. In the mid-1980s, he led
the change to packing and selling frozen
blueberries in lieu of raw processing. He
also led MBG into understanding the
need for individually quick-frozen fruit
(IQF) in the marketplace, and engaged
MBG in IQF fruit processing as far back
as 1990. But, USHBC noted, " what many
would consider John's most significant
achievement in his tenure with MBG
was his role in the formation of Naturipe
Farms - then called Global Berry Farms. "
Shelford led Naturipe's growth and he also
marketing for Sakuma Brothers Holding
Co. His primary focus is on frozen- and
fresh-market sales. Sakuma is a long-standing
member of USHBC and its board.
" My grandfather came over from
Japan in the early 1900s, and they started
growing strawberries in Brainbridge
Island, which is a small island right
outside of Seattle, " Sakuma said in
accepting the honor. " They eventually
moved north of Seattle, about 70 miles,
to Skagit county, which is currently
where Sakuma Brothers is located. We're
a diversified farm growing blueberries,
blackberries and strawberries. We are
comprised of members of both the third
BRYAN SAKUMA
helped create a sister company that focused
on frozen sales. Shelford continues as a
strategic adviser to Naturipe and acts as a
consultant in several other areas of the fruit
industry - for example, serving the USHBC
as an importer member, or its alternate,
from its beginning until 2010. He continues
to serve as a member of its Promotion
Committee and a leader in its USDA
relations committee.
channel for canning, blueberries in
water, or syrup or pie filling, were lesser
quality, frozen and primarily directed
to the bakery channel. The retail frozen
fruit shelf life, and shelf space, was not in
existence. We were early in the channel
with supply partnerships with Big
Valley-brand frozen fruits, purchased by
Dole. The antioxidant message changed
the industry. I cannot believe how the
antioxidant connection drove demand. "
Bryan Sakuma of Sakuma Brothers
Holding Co. was honored in the Export
and Global Community Relations category.
Sakuma is a third-generation berry
KASEY CRONQUIST
" It has been an amazing journey since
arriving in Michigan the third Monday
in April in 1976, " Shelford said in a
statement read at the ceremony. " At the
time, the vast majority of consumers
outside of the Northeast did not know
(of), or had not ever tasted a blueberry,
and the Nor'easters were fond of the
wild blueberry. In those days, the freshmarket
blueberry was the focus, and the
blueberries directed to the processing
grower in Washington state, USHBC said.
He began his career at Sakuma Brothers
Farms in 1989 and was the lead nursery
salesman for the Pacific Northwest for
Norcal Nursery Inc. During the summer
months, he was involved with his family
harvest and nursery growing operations.
After some time, he became president
of Sakuma Brothers Processing where
he managed both the fresh market and
processing facilities. While serving as
president of the company, Sakuma was
involved in developing the frozen sales
business in Japan. Since 2016, Sakuma
has been the vice president of sales and
and fourth generation.
" We at Sakuma Brothers Farms, and all
blueberry growers, appreciate all the work
that has been done by Kasey Cronquist and
his staff at the USHBC in helping the growers
promote our exporting efforts to both far east
and other locations throughout the world. "
Other honors
Other individuals honored by USHBC
included:
Grower Innovation, Production: Rod
Cook, Ag-View Consulting.
Grower Innovation, Sustainability:
Tom Avinelis, Agriculture Capital.
Grower Innovation, Community
Involvement and Outreach: Lorrie
Merker, MBG Marketing.
Marketing and Promotions: Kirk
McCreary, former chair of the USHBC
Promotion Committee and former MBG
Marketing CEO.
Food Manufacturing and Advances in
Blueberry Products: Joe Meduri, Meduri
World Delights.
Merchandising/Retail: Darrell Piliego,
Publix Super Markets.
Foodservice: Andrew Hunter, Chef
Andrew Culinary Development.
Genetic Research and Breeding with
Nursery Propagation: David Brazelton,
Fall Creek Nursery. FGN
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FGN | NOVEMBER 2020 | 29
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November 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2020
