Growing a healthy Association is our secret to growing healthy berries!
www.gotexans.org
The Texas Blueberry Marketing Association (TBMA) is an Agricultural Cooperative formed & operated by its producing members. We are 23 growers from Texas on one mission – growing delicious blueberries for our customers. This commitment to quality and consumer safety is what unites and drives us to support one another. We’re dedicated to growing a healthier Association – everyday. From the sharing of best practices to being honest when those practices aren’t being met, the strength of our product lies in an honest partnership with over 200 years of combined growing experience.
The evolution of the Texas Blueberry Industry -
It all started in the mid 1970’s with a small experimental plot of blueberries planted at the Texas A&M Research Center in Overton, Texas just southeast of Tyler. After a few years, working with several varieties, it was determined that certain blueberries would probably grow well in the sandy-acidic soils of East Texas. With the help of the Texas A&M extension and Stephen F. Austin State University, a number of small -blueberry fields were planted, mostly promoting pick-your-own farms.
From these first steps a diverse group called the Texas Blueberry Growers Association formed. In the mid 1980’s a group of farmers from within this association decided to attempt marketing Fresh Blueberries commercially. They evolved into what is now the Texas Blueberry Marketing Association. The first ever shipment of fresh Texas Blueberries sold to the Kroger Company in Ft Worth, Texas in June of 1986. Those berries were all hand picked and packaged in plastic cups with cellophane tops held on by rubber bands. It’s safe to say we’ve come a long way.
We’re proud to boast that our members were among the first to ever bring Texas grown blueberries to market. In fact, our Association continues to be a driving force behind developing the early season fresh market in Texas and beyond. Using state of the art harvesting and processing, our Association currently brings a million pounds of Fresh and Frozen Blueberries to market every year.
An Association bigger than Texas –
In the last thirty years we’ve attracted more than customers. Like-minded growers from the region have joined our ranks as well. Each grower shares both our commitment to quality and a geographical location that allows them to contribute to our early season harvest. Our harvest generally begins with low volume production in late April to early May with volumes increasing in late May and volumes peaking in mid June, then declining until end of season is reached in late July. Ask for us in your favorite grocery!