Custom Processing of Organic IQF Wild Blueberries in Franklin, Maine
When you meet John Collins, President and CEO of Franklin Processing Inc., you quickly realize he is more than a business owner. He is a down-to-earth, hardworking farmer with decades of experience in the wild blueberry industry and an eye for the next opportunity.
John grew up farming wild blueberries in Nova Scotia. He eventually brought that experience to Franklin, Maine, where he built Franklin Processing alongside his brother Mike, his family, and a dedicated team.
Today, Franklin Processing Inc. specializes in custom processing of organic IQF wild blueberries, helping bring one of Maine’s most iconic crops from the field to customers and across the country to tables all over. Thay are a vital business in the farm to fork process.
Inside Franklin Processing
During blueberry season, the Franklin facility is a busy operation.
Blueberries move through receiving, processing, IQF freezing, cold storage, and shipping. At every stage, the team must protect the quality of the fruit while keeping production moving efficiently.
That takes experienced people, a well-run facility, and equipment they can depend on.
Keeping the Operation Moving
W.D. Matthews has had the privilege of supporting Franklin Processing with forklifts, material handling equipment, dock equipment, rentals, and service for over a decade.
In an operation where cold storage, tight schedules, and seasonal demand are part of the job, reliable equipment matters. Toyota forklifts help Franklin Processing move product efficiently throughout the facility, while the W.D. Matthews team provides the local service and support needed to keep equipment working when it matters most.
For John, however, the relationship with W.D. Matthews has never been only about equipment.
It has always been about the people behind it.
John still remembers W.D. Matthews salesman Roger Parker spending an afternoon answering phones and helping out when the business was first getting started. It is a small story that says a lot about a relationship that has grown over the years through trusted advice, dependable service, and an understanding of Franklin Processing’s operation.
As John put it:
“Roger will never sell you something you don’t need. He always looked out for what was best for our business.”
Celebrating the People Behind Maine Business
Franklin Processing is a great example of what happens when agricultural experience, hard work, family, and a strong team come together.
Behind every box of wild blueberries is an entire operation and a group of people working to keep it moving.
At W.D. Matthews, we are proud to support businesses like Franklin Processing Inc. and the people behind them. We appreciate John and his team for giving us a look inside their operation and allowing us to share a piece of their story.
Because sometimes the best New England business stories start with something as small as a blueberry.
