The Blueberry People™, a producer-owned blueberry marketing cooperative, was formed in 1936 as the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association by the original blueberry growers in the state. It quickly gained a leadership role in the Michigan blueberry industry, and by the 1950s was a major influence in the US and North American blueberry industry — both as a pioneer in educating producers on good management practices for blueberry production and harvest, and also in pursuing legislative solutions to industry challenges.

Today, the organization’s leadership reflects effective selling and pricing strategies, market development activities, and horticultural expertise and research.

In the 1940s, membership extended into northern Indiana; in 1983, into Georgia and Florida; in 2006, into British Columbia; and in 2007 Miss-Lou Blueberry Growers Coop Association became a member. Today we also represent contract producers in Florida, North Carolina, and the Pacific Northwest. Our production base includes over 300 growers and total annual sales in excess of $130 million.

The Blueberry People™ headquarters are in Grand Junction, Michigan, ten miles from the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The cooperative owns and operates state-of-the-art blueberry receiving, pre-cooling and shipping facilities in Holland, Bangor and Grand Junction, Michigan; and Alma, Georgia. The cooperative also operates facilities in Ivanhoe, North Carolina; Demotte, Indiana; Fruitport, Michigan; Gainesville and Orlando, Florida; and Purvis and McComb, Mississippi. More than 200 seasonal and full-time people are employed annually.

An eleven-person board of directors governs The Blueberry People™. The board is elected by and from the member-producers. The board of directors establishes policy for the cooperative and hires the Chief Executive Officer. They also oversee activities of two wholly owned LLC subsidiaries: MBG Marketing Fresh LLC and MBG Marketing Process LLC, which allows them to provide focus on the two distinct parts of the business.