Our Story

The story of Latitude 43 Berry Farms is one of relentless hard work, a community of friends turned into family, and the conscious choice to choose humor and nonsensical positivity regardless of circumstances.

In 2018, Founders Chris Smith and Cole Campanaro stumbled on blueberry farming through their close family friend, “Uncle Dale.” They were dreaming of building something that combined their admiration for the outdoors with their desire to own and build something for the next generation. After semi-careful consideration, they wrote a business plan, found a property, and scraped together loans to get started. In Spring 2019, they bought their first tractor (a 1974 workhorse) and broke ground.

After a year of preparing the soil, Chris and Cole were ready to start planting. While the world “locked down” in April 2020, the 4 C’s (Chris, Cole, Camille, Colette) and a few friends transformed the 7-acre hay field into a proper blueberry field. All 13,000 bushes were planted by hand, one-by-one. It takes at least four years for a young blueberry bush to produce enough berries to warrant a commercial harvest. It’s a painstaking process, but farming was never designed to appeal to those who seek immediate gratification.

In 2023, the farm had its first harvest. With every berry picked by hand (thanks to the incredible help of family and friends), the team made their first dollars in revenue at the Umpqua Valley Farmer’s Market. The 4 C’s loaded a converted refrigerated trailer with presold blueberries, and Chris and Cole drove through the night (with an 8-month pregnant Colette in the back seat) to mitigate the risk of central valley heat affecting the berries during the day. It was a successful first harvest, but the final step to getting started would be in 2024 when there were enough berries to sell to a wholesaler.

2024 marked a massive turning point in the farm’s story. For the first time, hired pickers worked in the field rather than just Chris and Cole. In addition to selling berries direct-to-consumer in southern California, the farm also sold to a wholesaler for the first time.

The farm’s story is still being written, but the team is hopeful for the future.

The farm holds a special place in the hearts of Chris, Cole, Camille, and Colette. Not only is the farm a sanctuary from the busyness of life, but it also allows their friends and family to meaningfully reconnect with nature. Chris and Colette got engaged and a couple of years later found out Colette was pregnant while at the farm. Cole and Camille got married beside the banks of the pond that supplies the water for the plants, and Camille is hard at work transforming the 100+-year-old house into a welcoming and beautiful home.

How did two guys from Southern California end up farming in Oregon?

Chris and Cole met at a high school party. While everyone was having a great time, Chris and Cole spent the night talking about their mutual love for fishing. Over the years, their friendship grew alongside their love of the outdoors. Eventually, Cole moved to Oregon to start a contracting business. After years of visiting Cole in Oregon, Chris fell in love with the area. Today, Cole and Camille live on the farm and Chris and Colette split their time between the farm and their hometown of Newport Beach.

Where did the name Latitude 43 come from?

Chris and Cole share a passion for the ocean, fishing, and surfing, so Latitude 43 Berry Farms pays homage to their nautical roots. The farm is located on the 43rd latitude line, a common navigational term used in fishing.

Meet the Farmers

Chris and Colette Smith

A couple of farmers from Southern California? You betcha. What might seem out of place at first glance makes perfect sense once you get to know us. Our passion for spending time outdoors, eating and cooking good food, and being active can only lead to one outcome… Organic blueberry farming. When we aren’t working away in the fields you can find us paddleboarding, playing pickleball, practicing yoga, fly fishing, and hanging out at the beach. Colette also enjoys being a mom, fitness, and consulting for local businesses. Chris enjoys eating Rocky Road ice cream and commercial fishing for Bluefin tuna and lobster in Southern California. We hope you love our berries!
Cole and Camille Campanaro

We never thought we would be farmers... but after years of getting our hands dirty while peeling back the layers of nutrition, food systems, and ecosystem health, it arrived at our doorstep. The outdoors has long been a source of sustenance, inspiration, and adventure for us. We are passionate about the outdoors because hunting, fishing, gardening, and foraging enables us to connect with our food and eat consciously. When we aren’t in the blueberry field, you can find us hunting with our bird dogs, fishing, surfing along the west coast or exploring all the wonders of Oregon.