OXNARD, CA - If every consumer met the Bobalu brand the way I did, their hearts would hum at the sight of each box. I’ll never forget when the head of the company’s third generation, Bobby Jones, told me of how his floral-decorating grandmother fell in love with his cowboy grandfather. How their names together represent the company that planted one of Ventura County’s first strawberries. Now, consumers have a chance for the same treat as the team focuses on expanding the reach of its brand and the story that inspired it.

“As we focus on building our brand name with consumers, we are excited to reveal new website additions coming this spring, with new social media ambassadors, a shopper database, and a plan to share exclusive family recipes with our new followers,” Anthony Gallino, VP of Sales, shares. “We are also adding a QR code to our label to provide instant access to our story, our recipes, and selection and storing tips.”

Likewise, the berry provider is diving head-first into deeper partnership discussions as it looks to further propel consumption in today’s hungry climate.

“We look forward to learning more about how we can capitalize with our trading partners on the new dietary guidelines that support fresh produce consumption and finally address guidelines for our youngest consumers. We also look forward to supporting our retail partners as they navigate the online shopping demands and are very interested in how foodservice might expand at retail as consumers look for ways to get out of the kitchen in 2021,” Anthony shares, telling me there are so many possibilities on the horizon of this new year.

“We have all seen so much change in the last 12 months,” he continues. “We have not had in-person connections with our buyers or our industry peers. However, we have all seen new sides of people as we meet on screen in each other’s kitchens, living rooms, and new home offices—meeting with a retailer wearing a sweatshirt and baseball cap is definitely more relaxing and personal than in an office with a suit and tie! Wouldn’t it be great if we could keep that as a forever policy?” he laughs.

It’s this very window Anthony says has built stronger personal relationships over the past year, opening up several possibilities for digital and market expansion.

With a foundation for exciting partnerships, as well as plans for further growth, it looks as though both Bobalu’s story and its berries will be celebrating a broader reach in the near future.

Bobalu Berries