California Fruit and Vegetable

Category: Berries

  • Blueberry Council Receives Foreign Registration in China

    The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) recently received approval from the Chinese government for its registration as a Foreign Nongovernmental Organization (FNGO).

    When USHBC initially launched its China program, we immediately began seeking this registration to comply with the “Law on Administration of Activities of Overseas Nongovernmental Organizations in the Mainland of China,” which was implemented by the Chinese government in 2017. USHBC’s registration approval comes after working with the U.S. State Department, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., and the Shanghai Public Security Bureau for more than a year-and-a-half to authenticate and submit all necessary documentation.

    By completing its FNGO registration, USHBC is now officially approved to conduct marketing activities in China. This milestone is an important step in USHBC’s China program development, and will allow us to ramp up promotional activities in the country. USHBC is excited about this next step in its China program and seeing how the market continues to develop for the industry. — U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

  • Establishing Residue Decline Curves for Pesticides in Blueberries

    The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) has collaborated with Oregon State University, Michigan State University, Ag Metrics Group and Synergistic Pesticide Laboratory, LLC to establish residue decline curves for pesticides that have no established Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) and MRLs that are lower than U.S. tolerances.

    The objective was to investigate the residual level of multiple pesticides at different consequential timings after application on blueberry, thus understanding their degradation ratio and speed for better application/harvesting strategies. These findings would in turn allow for the development of low residue programs that meet the low MRL standards.

    Specifically, research entities have applied 18 insecticides and 15 fungicides on highbush blueberries for three years in five growing sites (to account for variation in climate, varietals, and pest and disease vulnerability). Research entities sent samples to Synergistic Pesticide Laboratory LLC for chemical residue extraction and analysis over the span of three years.

    As a result of this research study, several insecticides and fungicides can be applied to blueberries for export markets that could not have been used previously. Read the full report and in-depth findings on each pesticide here. — By the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

  • New Appointments to U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the appointment of 28 members and alternate members to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). Members and alternates will serve a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2025. Four of the appointments are the exporter members and alternates whose terms will expire Dec. 31, 2024, to remain in the council’s nomination rotation.

    The 21-member council is composed of 12 producers, four importers, four exporters and one public member. Each member seat has a corresponding alternate seat. Members and alternates can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.

    “The USHBC has an ambitious vision for the future of blueberries,” said USHBC President Kasey Cronquist, also president of the North American Blueberry Council (NABC). “With these newly appointed members of the council, we’ll be working together to inspire all the possibilities yet ahead for blueberries, while helping to ensure the future success and profitable returns back to our growers.”

    The newly appointed USHBC members are:

    California Producer: Doug LaCroix

    Florida Producer: Brittany Lee (formerly Florida Alternate)

    Georgia Producer: Tiffany Crosby

    Michigan Producer: Dennis Vander Kooi

    North Carolina Producer: Jimmy Horrell

    Importer #3: Ryan Lockman (formerly Importer #3 Alternate)

    Importer #4: Joe Barsi (formerly Importer #4 Alternate)

    Exporter #2 (CA): Mark Adams

    Exporter #3 (PE): Daniel Bustamante

    Exporter #4 (MX): Jose Luis Bustamante

    Newly appointed alternates are:

    California Producer: Bill Steed (formerly California Member)

    Florida Producer: Michael Hill

    Georgia Producer: Tammy Brannen

    Michigan Producer: George Fritz Jr. (formerly Michigan Member)

    New Jersey Producer: Chelsea Consalo

    North Carolina Producer: Kristen Johnson-Brinkley

    Oregon: Ellie Norris

    Washington Producer: Leif Olsen

    Importer #3: Andrew Maiman

    Importer #4: Bo Slack

    Exporter #2 (CA): Ray Biln (formerly Exporter #2 Alternate)

    Exporter #3 (PE): Jose Antonio Castro

    Exporter #4 (MX): Jose Guillermo Romo

    USHBC members who were reappointed are:

    New Jersey Producer: Paul Macrie III

    Oregon Producer: Doug Krahmer

    Washington Producer: Bryan Sakuma

    Importer #2: JC Clinard

    Reappointed alternates are: 

    Importer #2: Guy Cotton (formerly Handler member)

    Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.

    About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

    Established in 2000, The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USHBC represents blueberry growers and packers in North and South America who market their blueberries in the United States and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the entire blueberry industry. USHBC was established by blueberry growers and currently has 2,500 growers, packers and importers. USHBC is committed to providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped in clean, safe environments. Learn more at ushbc.org.

  • Blueberry Council Hires Monument Advocacy to Advance DC Presence

    The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) today announced the hiring of Monument Advocacy, a government relations and public affairs firm based in Washington, DC. Monument will work with NABC to promote the blueberry industry in the nation’s capital and advocate for programs and products in the 2023 Farm Bill that support the business of blueberries.

    “The North American Blueberry Council represents every section of the blueberry industry, including farmers, packers, shippers and researchers, and keeps all stakeholders updated with market reports, consumer data and analytics, and marketing insights,” said Kasey Cronquist, President of the North American Blueberry Council. “As we move into 2023, NABC is focused on ramping up our presence in Washington, DC to ensure Members of Congress understand the scope, scale, and benefits of the highbush industry. It is vital our members’ views are heard during the upcoming Farm Bill negotiation, and that legislators are informed about the needs of the industry, as well as the nutritional benefits of blueberries. When searching for a firm to help us achieve these goals, Monument Advocacy was top-of-mind, and we are confident our partnership will immensely serve the blueberry industry.”

    “We are thrilled to work with the North American Blueberry Council on advancing their members’ goals in Washington, DC,” said T.A. Hawks, Partner and head of the Agriculture Practice at Monument Advocacy. “The blueberry industry is experiencing unprecedented growth and Monument is excited to help NABC educate lawmakers about how to best support the industry through legislation. 2023 is a big year for agriculture policy, and we are ready to ensure NABC has its voice heard in Washington, DC.”

    About NABC: Since 1965, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) has been the voice of the blueberry industry in the U.S. and Canada. NABC’s members represent approximately 70% of the North American highbush blueberry crop. NABC was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHABC), a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more athttps://nabc.blueberry.org/

    About Monument Advocacy: Monument Advocacy is a bipartisan firm that offers government relations, public affairs, strategic and crisis communications, and digital services. We focus on providing our clients with the best advice on how to engage effectively in today’s challenging and crowded public policy marketplace.

  • California Blueberry Commission Executive Director Among New North American Blueberry Council Board Leadership

    The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) released the full slate of its recently elected board of directors, including new president Pat Goin of Goin’s Blueberry Lane in Indiana, and other board officers. Starting in 2023, the board has been expanded from six to 15 members, several of which hail from California.  Among the new Board members is Todd Sanders, Executive Director of the California Blueberry Commission.  “I am excited to join the NABC Board of Directors and help with the continued promotion and market development of the blueberry industry. The California blueberry industry has grown exponentially over the last 10 years and I look forward to representing the California blueberry industry in their efforts on the National level.”

    The NABC board is charged with addressing issues, opportunities and industry practices that drive success and profitability in the production and distribution of blueberries in North America and around the world. Over the past two years, the NABC’s board leadership has taken a bold approach to further develop and drive the organization’s mission, including the expansion of board representation and new categories of membership to encourage membership growth.

    Prior to her tenure as NABC board president, Goin served as vice chair of the board and chair of the NABC’s Government Affairs Committee. She was also the chair of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council’s (USHBC) Good Practices Committee.

    “NABC continues to be uniquely positioned to unite our industry efforts,” explained Goin. “I look forward to working with our newly expanded board to accomplish together what none of us could accomplish alone. This is an exciting evolution for our organization, and I’m proud to be a part of where we are going.”

    In addition to Goin, the 2023 executive board includes:

    • Teddy Koukoulis, Chair Elect, Fabulous Farms LLC
    • Ellie Norris, Secretary, Norris Farms LLC
    • Art Galletta, Treasurer, Atlantic Blueberry Co.
    • Ken Patterson, Past Chair, Island Grove LLC
    Newly elected members of the board include:
    • Tom Avinelis, AgriCare Inc.
    • Chelsea Consalo, Consalo Family Farms
    • David Jackson, Family Tree Farms
    • Brittany Lee, Florida Blue Farms
    • Jason Smith, Fraser Berry Farms
    • Cesar Ortiz Mendoza, Aba Value/Berries Paradise
    • Bo Slack, California Giant Berry Farms
    • Ryan Lockman, North Bay Produce
    • Derek Eisele, Scenic Fruit
    • Todd Sanders, California Blueberry Commission

  • Invasive Stink Bug Habitat Could Expand with Climate Change

    A foul-smelling, voracious, wide-spread pest of fresh fruits and tree nuts could become even more ubiquitous with climate change.

    A recent modelling study found that changing weather could increase suitable habitat for the brown marmorated stink bug in the United States by 70%. The study, published in Pest Management Science, draws on data from a three-year stink bug monitoring effort in 17 states as well as several potential climate scenarios. However, whether the insects will thrive in new places depends on the conditions of each area and potential mitigation measures.

    “Every system will change with climate change, so the fact that you can grow garbanzo beans, lentils or wheat without these pests now, doesn’t mean that you will not have them in a few years,” said study lead author Javier Gutierrez Illan, a Washington State University entomologist. “There are mitigating things that we can do, but it is wise to prepare for change.”

    The study found that overall, there is likely to be a northward shift in stink bug-friendly conditions. Regions that may be particularly affected include the Mid-Atlantic, areas surrounding the Great Lakes, and the valleys of the West Coast, such as the Sacramento Valley in California and the Treasure Valley in Idaho.

    The brown marmorated stink bug is a generalist herbivore — it is known to feast on nearly 170 different plants including crops and ornamental plants. Originating in Asia, this type of stink bug first appeared in the U.S. about 20 years ago and has since spread coast to coast. It’s been detected in 46 states and considered a pest in 15 of them.

    Brown marmorated stink bug on a blackberry plant. Photo by Gheorhge on iStock

    Homeowners may recognize brown marmorated stink bugs because they like to overwinter indoors. In fact, the study found that proximity to populated areas appeared to help the insects get established in new places, but once there, they did not need to be near people to proliferate. Other factors like availability of water mattered more for their abundance.

    People are likely inadvertently transporting stink bugs in vehicles or farm equipment to areas that would otherwise be hard for them to reach by flying alone, said Gutierrez Illan.

    Stink bugs dislike cold winters, but the rising temperatures brought by climate change are not necessarily a good thing if the land becomes too dry. They need water, so the researchers said that changing patterns of precipitation will likely influence where the stink bugs will thrive.

    In some states including Washington, officials and researchers are employing a parasitoid insect, called the samurai wasp, to control stink bugs. The wasps lay their own eggs inside stink bug eggs. This not only destroys the affected eggs, but when the wasp larvae hatch, they eat other developing stink bugs. Measures like these might help prevent or minimize stink bug spread into new areas, Gutierrez Illan said.

    For Washington growers, the researcher recommended using WSU’s DAS, or Decision Aid System, a web-based tool which provides information to help prepare for changes to their agricultural systems, including the possible appearance of these pests.

    Gutierrez Illan also advised growers to familiarize themselves with the brown marmorated stink bug through sites like stopbsmb.org, even if they have never had the pest in their fields.

    “Most growers learn from their parents or from the previous generation, but the information that they had is probably no longer as useful because the climate is changing, so they need these types of tools,” Gutierrez Illan said.  — By Sara Zaske, Washington State University

  • US Blueberry Impact Report Highlights Industry Growth, Innovation

    The U.S. Blueberry Council (USHBC) has released its 2021 Impact Report that details last year’s efforts across all program areas in working toward the USHBC’s vision to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit.

    Guided by the 2021-2025 strategic plan, USHBC recaps 2021 progress and achievements in consumer promotions, health research, foodservice, industry relations, export and food manufacturing, and annual meetings taking place in the spring and fall. An overview of the organization, its committees, staff and financials is also included.

    “Last year marked a pivotal point in time for our organization in our journey to drive the next ‘blue wave’ of growth and innovation in the blueberry industry,” said USHBC President Kasey Cronquist. “We launched Grab a Boost of Blue, our inspirational consumer call to action that’s resonating with shoppers and retailers, and being championed by industry marketers and stakeholders. Data and insights took center stage thanks to a host of new resources in our data center. And most importantly, the blueberry industry overwhelmingly recommitted to the USHBC with the passage of a referendum supporting the council’s work. With stakeholder support and involvement, we’ll continue to inspire possibilities and drive demand for our blueberry industry.”

    USHBC’s strategic plan, also developed in 2021, addresses the organization’s pillars of focus and the long-term tactics being implemented to drive domestic household penetration and demand for blueberries worldwide. View the full report HERE.

    About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

    Established in 2000, The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USHBC represents blueberry growers and packers in North and South America who market their blueberries in the United States and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the entire blueberry industry. USHBC was established by blueberry growers and currently has 2,500 growers, packers and importers. USHBC is committed to providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped in clean, safe environments. Learn more at ushbc.org.

  • Nominate Blueberry Industry Standouts for NABC Awards

    The nomination period for the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) Awards is now open! Leaders in the blueberry industry will be honored at The Blueberry Summit this fall, and NABC needs your help to identify who should be recognized. The Duke Galletta Award recognizes excellence in blueberry horticultural research, and the Alex Wetherbee Award honors outstanding contributions in marketing and promotion.

    Submit nominations for these prestigious awards by August 12. For more information about the NABC Awards, contact Amanda Griffin, vice president of engagement and education, at agriffin@nabcblues.org, or visit nabc.blueberry.org/all-resources/nabc-awards/.

  • Women in Blueberries Webinar Series

    For women in agriculture, creating a supportive network can be one of the most important factors for career success. Fortunately, in the blueberry industry, we’re surrounded by women who are making an impact! Register for the first session of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council’s (USHBC) new webinar series, Women in Blueberries: The Power of Supportive Women’s Networks, on July 13 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT.
    This webinar will examine the power of bringing women along on your career journey, and how to be more mindful in supporting women who inspire you. During the webinar, you’ll also interact with the other participants in breakout sessions curated by USHBC. Be part of the solution by joining the discussion!
    This opportunity is limited to 100 participants so register today!

  • New York City Event to Kick Off National Blueberry Month

    To kick off National Blueberry Month and announce the Grab A Boost, Give A Boost Challenge with No Kid Hungry, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is hosting a media event in New York City on June 28. Our team will create a blueberry garden oasis in the heart of New York at Gallow Green in The McKittrick Hotel, best known for its interactive theater experience at the base of the Chelsea Highline. We’ll host a grower showcase farm stand, design a series of immersive visuals at the theater to showcase our influencers, and build an installation that supports our partnership with No Kid Hungry.

    Plus, fitness expert Joey Thurman will conduct demonstrations and speak about the benefits of blueberries when it comes to living an active lifestyle. Wellness and nutrition expert Mascha Davis will conduct yoga and meditation demonstrations, as well as talks on intuitive eating. As registered dietitian, Davis will also speak to the many health and lifestyle benefits of blueberries. Both experts will help shape and drive media coverage and stories about blueberries following the event.

    A final send off at the end of the evening will officially kick off National Blueberry Month and our 31-Day Challenge with No Kid Hungry, and introduce our celebrity spokesperson. A photographer will document the event, capturing guests interacting with blueberry-related experiences. A post-event sizzle reel will be created for sharing with the industry, on social media and more.