Latest News From Blueberries

As peach growers in the Carolinas face the prospect of a leaner crop this year in the wake of a March freeze, blueberry growers in the region are looking at a similar prospect.

A recent freeze may cost Georgia three-quarters of its $400 million blueberry crop, agriculture officials there say.

Overnight temperatures dipping into the low 20s March 15-16 hit some of Georgia's berry and peach crops, although state agriculture officials weren't yet sure how extensive the damage was.

Last year, Florida blueberries experienced no chill in November and December, followed by a cold spring, which made for low volume and late timing.

According to the North American Blueberry Council 2016 Crop Report, as of Oct. 31, North Carolina had produced 34 million pounds of blueberries last season. The full season numbers for 2015 were 36.9 million pounds.

National and state associations are ready to support blueberry sales in 2017 as the season is ready to kick off.

After a couple of bad crop years in Georgia, this year is looking better for blueberries, said Joe Cornelius, president of J&B Blueberry Farms Inc., Manor, Ga., and chairman of the Georgia Blueberry Commission, also in M

Despite labor concerns and a few weather-related issues, Southeast blueberry growers are looking forward to a good start to the season.

Catch up with companies featured in The Packer's 2017 Southeast Blueberries section.

Consumer demand for blueberries continues to increase.

Following difficult, weather-related growing conditions that negatively impacted many commodities last spring, this year's outlook has been optimistically deemed "as good as it can get."

Michigan blueberry growers have been watching the weather closely, hoping warm days don't lead to early blooming and later losses due to freezing.

Grand Junction, Mich.-based MBG Marketing has joined in a partnership to create Canada-based MB Global Foods.

Volume increases of blueberries and grapes helped notch record fourth quarter 2016 earnings for Lima, Peru-based Camposol.

Equipment Support Solutions is introducing a weigher designed specifically for blueberries.

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has launched a campaign intended to alert consumers to blueberry availability year-round, with an emphasis on South American berries during the winter.

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Anaheim, Calif.-based Northgate Gonzales Markets and Chilean Blueberries are teaming up for the next few weeks to teach kids how to eat healthy with blueberries.

Three-year terms began Jan. 1 for 13 new members of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and their alternates, appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Producer members are:

Good weather brings a large crop and good quality - and a lot more work.

Shipments of Argentina blueberries got off to an early start in late August, and importers anticipate significantly greater volume than last year.

A couple of programs introduced last year that should enhance the importation process for Argentina blueberries seem to be working well, despite some anticipated hiccups.

Eighteen-ounce clamshell containers of blueberries that once were relatively rare coming from Argentina are becoming much more commonplace as plantings in that country increase.

Watsonville, Calif.-based California Giant Berry Farms has launched an online marketing campaign that aligns with the run-up to presidential election and invites consumers to vote red or blue - for strawberries or

Catch up on what's happening with companies involved in the Argentina blueberry deal.

Most containers of Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. berries will be sporting a new look by the time the annual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit rolls around in October.

Lima, Peru-based Camposol Holding said second quarter sales were off 6.1% because decreased volume of several commodities more than offset increased shipments of blueberries.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is expanding its worldwide production of avocados and blueberries.