North Bay Returns Record $16.7 Million to Grower-Owners

Traverse City, Michigan — North Bay, a grower-owned cooperative dedicated to delivering premium fresh fruits and vegetables, has announced the distribution of a $16,674,000 patronage dividend to its grower-owners. Since patronage dividends began in 1991, the cooperative has returned $108,931,000 to its members, reinforcing its commitment to working on behalf of the farmers who own the business and ensuring the future success of the cooperative.

Nick Osmulski, President of North Bay, adds, “In order for North Bay to be successful, our farmers need to be successful first and foremost. The annual patronage dividend that we’re able to give back to our members each year helps them to reinvest in their farming operations, ensuring their continued success into the future.”

Unlike traditional produce marketing companies, North Bay’s grower-owned structure aligns the company with the farms that produce its fruits and vegetables, enabling investments that benefit growers, customers, and the cooperative alike. Beyond its financial commitments to growers, North Bay’s cooperative structure fosters the sharing of technology and agronomic expertise across its farms, a key driver of the cooperative’s success.

North Bay continues to invest across its operations to strengthen the cooperative and position it for future growth.

Recent investments include:

• Expansion of premium proprietary varietal programs across blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, and other commodities.
• Continued development of premium genetics, including SEKOYA® blueberries and ERANDY® blackberries.
• Investments in packing technology and operational efficiencies.
• Construction of a new cooler facility in Miami, FL supporting North Bay’s South American imports into the US
• Construction of new packaging and office space supporting North Bay’s apple operations.
• Strategic grower partnerships in key production regions.
• Continued innovation in sustainable packaging and consumer engagement.

The annual patronage dividend and these investments reflect North Bay’s commitment to reinvesting in both its grower-owners and the long-term success of the cooperative. Together, they strengthen North Bay’s ability to deliver exceptional produce while creating lasting value for growers, customers, and retail partners.

“North Bay is going through a tremendous amount of growth right now around the world and in all facets of the company. We are in a fortunate position where the structure and the financial strength of the cooperative allow us to keep up with this growth through continual genetic, technology, and infrastructure advancements without relying on outside investors, which seems to be rather unique in today’s business world.” Nick Osmulski

A New Brand Rooted in the Same Values

This year’s dividend announcement follows another important milestone—the launch of North Bay’s new corporate brand identity.

The refreshed brand reflects the company’s evolution while reinforcing the values that have guided the cooperative for more than four decades, putting farmers first, delivering premium produce, embracing innovation, and strengthening partnerships from the farm to the marketplace.

The new brand features a farmer-focused identity and interactive Augmented Reality packaging that connects consumers directly with North Bay farms and the growers behind the produce. As North Bay continues to grow, the brand provides a unified platform for sharing those stories and celebrating the people who make the cooperative unique.

“We began this rebrand endeavor with the goal of creating a logo and a brand that better represents who we are as a company and conveying that to the farmers, the customers, and the consumers around the world. We are extremely excited about the outcome of this rebrand and we’re thankful to the grower-owners of North Bay for their involvement and trust in allowing us to make such a significant change.” Nick Osmulski

Looking Ahead

North Bay continues to expand its premium produce portfolio while investing in people, technology, and grower partnerships. Continued acreage expansion, proprietary varieties, and operational improvements position the cooperative to meet growing demand for premium fresh produce across North America and beyond.

The cooperative remains committed to delivering value to customers while creating lasting opportunities for the families who own and grow the business.

About North Bay Produce

Founded in 1984, North Bay Produce is a grower-owned cooperative representing more than 30 grower families across North, Central, and South America. The cooperative markets a diverse portfolio of premium fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, including apples, asparagus, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and other fresh produce. Headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, North Bay combines farmer ownership, innovative growing practices, and customer-focused solutions to supply retailers around the world with exceptional fresh produce.