The blueberry industry is gaining ground in Hernando County.
The blueberries being carried along a conveyor belt are starting their journey to grocery stores all over the country. Spiech Farms' packing house is giving local growers a boost and putting Brooksville in the blueberry spotlight.
Steve Spiech and his family are from Michigan, but they opened up a packing house in Hernando County because the blueberry industry is growing. They're getting berries from about 18 growers in Hernando, Pasco, Citrus and beyond.
"There is quite a bit of volume coming out and the farms are getting larger," Spiech said.
All the cartons full of berries that go out the door have the same labels on them. They let everybody know the blueberries are from Brooksville.
Local growers like Todd Wolf say the packing house is great. Before his berries were plucked off the bush and had to travel all the way to some place like Plant City. Now they go across the street, saving him time and money.
"Means better berries, absolutely, because they are not doing these long hauls in a truck," Wolf said.
The blueberries that leave the Hernando County packing house are sold directly to supermarket chains all over the nation.