July: New WHOLE Strawberries and What’s Behind a Name?

July is a time of year when we at BVO recognize the birth of our great nation by introducing our new style of strawberries that are “WHOLE” giving them an even more pleasing chewiness to go along with their more intense tangy-sweet flavor profile.

This year’s strawberry crop has been amazing.We were able to get most of this season’s supply from just down the road from us, which sure helps in minimizing our footprint which is an important portion of our corporate mission.

For a deeper understanding of who we are, read on to learn the story behind our name, as shared by Angela:

“In the early ‘90s we had completed our family with two beautiful daughters. Following the Martino family tradition, and Italian tradition in general, we named our first daughter after Victor’s mother, Vivian Martino. We named our second daughter after my mother, Belle Gose. Our mothers were women who truly embodied the meanings of their names: Vivian signifies full of life and Belle signifies beautiful. Both grandmothers had raised their families with strong values of faith, family, taking care of our planet and working hard for the things that matter. They also both taught us that fruit is an incredible gift and BEAUTIFUL.

We were truly enjoying a Beautiful Life as we grew our family and our business. We had hired a corporate identity agency that suggested we rename ourselves to align with our mission and purpose: To produce beautiful fruit that would create beauty in the life of every person we touched, whether customers, employees or vendors, while maintaining harmony with our earth and her resources. It was a tall order to think of a name that would communicate this purpose. We spent many hours brainstorming, pondering and waiting for inspiration. Then it came!

It was a beautiful day. We were hanging out at home and playing with our daughters. I felt purely blessed to have the luxury of watching my husband romping with our two beautiful girls. As I looked from girl to girl it hit me! Vivian, Belle…Belle Vivian…Bella Viva! Beautiful Life. It was just right for us!

Bella Viva is a name that is deeply connected to our mothers, their lives and what mattered to them. It remains in us and it’s our aim that everything surrounding a Beautiful Life will be instilled in our grandchildren and generations to come. Elements of that Beautiful Life include faith, family, love of our planet, producing beautiful fruit and promoting a Beautiful Life to everyone who is touched by our product. Beautiful Fruit. Beautiful Life. Bella Viva.

Then, and even stronger today, over 30 years later, our mission remains the same. Victor has a great way of putting it:

“To enhance the human experience through creating choices in the marketplace that are honestly nutritious, flavorful, visually pleasing and socially and environmentally just.”

As we look back to those days and appreciate the life we enjoy today, we invite you to revisit your own story. Great, ‘cause Angela is sharing her secret recipe for lower-sugar Vanilla Ice Cream with Dried Berry Compote, in case you are interested.

While you kick back, you can give your budget a rest, too, ‘cause from now through the end of July, to celebrate Independence Day, we’re offering our NEW Dried Strawberries (whole and unsweetened) for 10 percent off. A deal like this just may get those product development creative juices flowing!

Think of how you can add them to your food or beverage lineup! This summer, we invite you to give yourself some time to relax and think about what might be part of your own Beautiful Life. Happy July and happy Independence Day, partners!

At Bella Viva Orchards it’s our mission to enhance the human experience through creating choices in the marketplace that are honestly nutritious, flavorful, visually pleasing and socially and environmentally just. And we understand what matters most: Food safety, transparency and continuity of supply – all while delivering the very best flavor straight from nature and providing consistency and competitive pricing. As your partner in innovation, we are committed to your success and here to support your efforts every step of the way. As pioneers and market leaders in the Natural Dried Fruit sector, it’s our privilege and honor to serve you and promote our message of a “Beautiful Life” – our wish for you – since 1988.

Apricots On The Tree At BellaViva Orchards – And Yes, That’s an Owl Box

It’s Apricot harvest time here in California’s Central Valley and right now, our team’s getting ready to harvest our prized Certified Organic California Apricots that are grown in an orchard that’s been in the Martino family since 1943. With this harvest upon us we’d like to offer you a nice discount this month. It’s an excellent time for you to get inspired about Apricots and develop new items incorporating Bella Viva Orchards’ Certified Organic Apricots.

If you’d like to reminisce with us and pick up some Martino Family trivia, read on! You’re also welcome to contact us via phone: 209-883-4146 or email:sales@bellaviva.com to access your discount.

As we muse upon our past we hope to inspire you to look back on your own company history and feel the kind of pride and gratitude that we feel. So, we were recently reminiscing about how long we’ve been farming and how fortunate we are to run a family-operated business. Way back in the 1970s when Angela, then a 7-year old newcomer from the Midwest, first tasted California-grown Apricots she was amazed. She and her family hadn’t had anything like it due to the cold Midwest winters and the lack of fruit availability in their stores at that time. During her family’s first June here, they went fruit stand hopping to gather up over-ripe and blemished Apricots. They used a home drying system and sent the dried fruits as gifts to their Midwestern relatives. It was that first June in Modesto that Angela and her family ventured out to the Martino family’s fruit stand. She’s almost positive it was then that she first met Victor, an 8-year old boy who was helping his dad and mom at the family fruit stand.

Who’d have known that they would later get married, have kids of their own and start Bella Viva Orchards?

While it was so many years ago, in many ways it seems like just yesterday.

Angela still loves those Apricots! She takes great pride in what she and Victor and their amazing team bring to the CPG space. She recalls with gratitude that it WAS and still IS such a beautiful life.

As you think of the harvest of Certified Organic California Apricots from the Martino family’s legacy orchard and the story of how Angela met Victor, allow yourself to reminisce about your own days of old and maybe how things were in the early days for your company. While you’re at it, imagine how our Certified Organic California Apricots can so easily become part of YOUR story.

Our Certified Organic California Apricots pack a bright, tart and sweet pop of flavor in every bite and would lend themselves easily to a wide variety of food and beverage products. And there’s absolutely nothing added!!

sales@bellaviva.com or 1-800-552-8218 for discounted pricing on Bella Viva Orchards’ own Certified Organic California Apricots.

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Month: June 2023

July: New WHOLE Strawberries and What’s Behind a Name?

July: New WHOLE Strawberries and What’s Behind a Name?

Calling all CPG Innovators: Apricot Harvest Is Upon Us!