Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S M I D C O A S T & D OW N E A S T e new Just Fruit line of frozen fruit and yogurt bites is being rolled out in the Northeast and beyond, starting with BJ's, Hannaford, Market Basket Big Y and Harris Teeter. at brings Wyman's into a new category described as "healthy convenience" by Patrick Carroll, vice president of marketing, who expects a national footprint within the next 12 months. Carroll says the firm has a dozen other items in development, though only has the resources to do one a year, and isn't too worried about copycat rivals because "we beat them to the punch." As the only large Maine wild blueberry supplier with a retail brand, Wyman's innovation moves are being closely watched by others in the indus- try — and adding to expectations of a gradual sector rebound. An industry in flux Wild blueberries grow only in Maine and Atlantic Canada. Maine's 40,000 acres of fruit grow along the Downeast coast to the state's south- west corner, going back 10,000 years though they weren't commercially harvested until the 1840s. Maine is the country's sole com- mercial producer of wild or lowbush blueberries, which are smaller and less ubiquitous than cultivated or highbush varieties. ought they're available fresh in season, they are primarily sold in frozen form. Today's market is highly fragmented, with 60% of production controlled by a handful of players. Besides Wyman's, they include Cherryfield Foods Inc., owned by Canada's Oxford Frozen Foods; Allen's Blueberry Freezer and Merrill Blueberry Farms Inc., both in Ellsworth; and Allen's Wild, of Orland. Together, the five also own about half the land where wild blueberries are grown. e largest grower who isn't also a processor is the Passamaquoddy Tribe, with about 2,000 acres, while Since 1989 Local Decisions Be Budget! 800.924.4229 www.bdtme.com Problems Solved. Budget Document Technology is an industry leader in providing digital solutions for document creation, production, and distribution. Helping Maine get business done! • Multi-functional Color & B&W Copiers • Printers & Scanners • Postage & Mailing Equipment • Software & Network Solutions • Managed Print Services R EGI ONAL S PONS OR S PR ES ENTI NG S PONS OR Join us at our sixth stop in the 2019 On the Road with Mainebiz event series in Kennebunkport! Enjoy hors-d'oeuvres, one free drink, and a cash bar while networking with business executives in the area. Be sure to bring business cards to hand out to new connections that you make. Network with the greater Kennebunk region on October 24! October 24 | 5–7pm | The Nonantum Resort, Kennebunkport AT T E N DA N C E I S F R E E B U T S PAC E I S L I M I T E D! Please be sure to register ahead at mainebiz.biz/kennebunks KENNEBUNKS FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS OTRKennebunks19 C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » We don't care whether you're introduced to Wyman's through the innovation or get introduced through the bagged fruit, so long as you get introduced. — Tony Shurman Wyman's

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