Draft:Gem-Pack Berries

• Comment: Fails WP:NCOMPANY, is heavily reliant on primary sources. Dan arndt (talk) 04:11, 15 November 2024 (UTC)

Gem-Pack Berries is a U.S.-based agricultural company specializing in the cultivation and distribution of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.^[1]

The company began as the Western Marketing Company, founded by the Kawamura family to expand the market for their strawberries beyond Southern California. The Western Chief label became a recognized brand for strawberries distributed both domestically and internationally.^[2] The Kawamura family built a deep agricultural legacy in California, starting four generations prior after the family emigrated from Japan in the early 1900s and involved themselves in agriculture. The families were moved to an internment camp in Arizona during World War II, which forced them to temporarily leave their business in a friend's care, but they were able to return and continue growing their company after the war ended.^[3]

Mike Etchandy, a fourth generation farmer and owner and operator of Etchandy Farms, joined the other growers of the Orange County Produce team, which marked the start of a long-term partnership with the Kawamura family. Together they continued to distribute strawberries worldwide and increase their presence in the California strawberry market while maintaining sustainable growing practices.^[4]

Paul Kawamura graduated from NYU and began an early career on the East Coast before officially joining the family's produce business as a fourth-generation Kawamura, and has since become Chief Revenue Officer of Gem-Pack Berries.^{[3] [5]}

Gem-Pack Berries, LLC was officially established, focusing on year-round strawberry production. The company's multi-family generations in farming spanned over 50 years^[6] and the portfolio expanded to include a  collaboration with California Berry Cultivars (CBC, LLC), which introduced proprietary varieties into Gem-Pack Berries' product offering.^[6]

In 2020, Gem-Pack added Red Blossom Sales Inc. to its operations to enhance its year-round production capacity and product lineup. This expansion allowed Gem-Pack to expand into Santa Maria, CA, Central Mexico, and Florida, creating a more consistent supply of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries to its customers. Red Blossom introduced the first electronic traceback system for clamshell packaging in 2010, which set a new traceability standard among shippers in the industry. Red Blossom, a berry operation led by Craig Casca and David Lawrence, evolved from a marketing business into a grower after industry consolidation.^{[7] [8]}

In 2023, Gem-Pack Berries acquired Well-Pict Berries, a company founded by Tim Miyasaka in 1972. Gem-Pack's acquisition of Well-Pict further strengthened its position in the industry, expanding its product volume and deepening its research into berry science.^[9]

Gem-Pack Berries cultivates and distributes:^[1]

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries

Gem-Pack Berries operates in several key growing regions, including: California, Mexico, and Florida.^[1]

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