True Blue Farms in Michigan: History, What It Grows, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
True Blue Farms of Grand Junction, Van Buren County, Michigan, is a blueberry grower, processor and distributor started by Dennis and Shelly Hartmann in 1990. Fruit Growers News reported that the family owns 368 acres, rents 130 more, and was set for induction into the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame in September 2021.
| Location | Grand Junction, Van Buren County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 |
| Sectors | Blueberries; processing, freezing, packing; wholesale and retail |
| Scale | 368 owned acres and 130 rented acres (Fruit Growers News, 2021) |
| Why it is elite | Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame induction (2021); vertically integrated with 10 subsidiary companies; Shelly Hartmann was first female chair of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council |
| Ownership | Family-owned by Dennis and Shelly Hartmann, with daughter Kara and her husband Jamie involved |
| Official website | Fruit Growers News Hall of Fame announcement for True Blue Farms |
History of True Blue Farms
Fruit Growers News reports that the blueberry operation was established in 1990. Dennis Hartmann is a third-generation blueberry farmer, and the family has been in agriculture for more than 30 years. An earlier 2010 report said the Hartmanns began with roughly 10 acres while holding other jobs, then bought additional farms until blueberries became their full-time work.
By 2021 the family had formed 10 subsidiary companies, including The Blueberry Store in South Haven, and daughter Kara and her husband Jamie had joined the operation. Shelly was elected the first female chair of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, and the Hartmanns were slated for the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame on September 11, 2021.
What True Blue Farms Grows and Raises
True Blue Farms grows blueberries on land in southwest Michigan, where Lake Michigan moderates temperatures and sandy soils suit the crop. The family also processes, packages and freezes berries and distributes them to wholesalers and retailers, and the 2010 report said its processing facility handled fruit for about 50 other growers.
The operation includes equipment design and maintenance, an unusual extension that supports the farm's own fleet and sells expertise to others. Michigan Farm Bureau lists blueberries among the nation's leading crops by volume where Michigan growers rank at or near the top.
How True Blue Farms Makes Money
Fresh and frozen blueberries
The farm grows, packs and freezes blueberries for wholesale and retail customers. Packing and freezing extend the selling season beyond fresh harvest.
Processing for other growers
In 2010 the Hartmanns reported their facility handled berries for about 50 other growers, turning a processing plant into a service revenue stream.
Retail store and catalog
Blueberry products are sold through The Blueberry Store in South Haven and by catalog, giving the family direct-to-consumer margins on a share of its fruit.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from True Blue Farms
The first lesson is how a modest start became a diversified group. The Hartmanns bought farms in steps, then built processing, retail and equipment businesses that serve both themselves and neighbors.
The second lesson is leadership in industry organizations. Shelly's role at the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council shows how involvement in marketing and research groups brings insight to the farm's own business.
A blueberry operation named True Blue Farms has already won half the pun contest before the first truck rolls out of Grand Junction. If you enjoy farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes, farm.FM will suit the afternoon lull between freezer shifts, and no one will ask for a berry-themed pun that has not been tried.
farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, also runs Tractor Tunes, a country music lineup for farmers. For a sample of the writing, try the archive of one of its staff humorists.
How to Contact True Blue Farms
Public page listed as the best verified source for this operation, November 2026. No official farm website, address, phone or email was verified; the trade press announcement is listed instead. Confirm current details with the operation before visiting or placing orders.
True Blue Farms Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Blueberry farm operators to be inducted into Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame - Fruit Growers News, 2021
- Michigan blueberry farm stays 'True Blue' - Fruit Growers News profile, 2010
- Michigan Farm Bureau agriculture facts - State blueberry and commodity facts
- USDA NASS 2022 Census, Michigan - State farm counts and sales
- USDA FSA Michigan state office - Farm loans and programs
True Blue Farms FAQ
Where is True Blue Farms?
It is in Grand Junction, in Van Buren County, southwest Michigan.
How big is True Blue Farms?
Fruit Growers News reported 368 owned acres and 130 rented acres in 2021.
Who runs it?
Dennis and Shelly Hartmann started it in 1990, and their daughter Kara and her husband Jamie are part of the operation.
How can I contact True Blue Farms?
No official site was verified. The Blueberry Store in South Haven is the family's retail business.
True Blue Farms shows how a blueberry grower can add processing, retail and equipment businesses. See the Michigan state guide for the fruit belt's climate and markets, and browse the other Michigan operations.