Capitol Hill celebrates National Blueberry Month

Grown in 48 states on 13,00 farms, blueberries took the stage in July during National Blueberry Month. This year, the North American Blueberry Council led efforts to celebrate and support the thriving blueberries industry in the U.S., according to a news release.

What’s more, in 2023 a resolution was passed in the U.S. Senate declaring July as National Blueberry Month — recognizing the positive economic impact and nutritional benefits of blueberries.

“July has shown that blueberries are beloved in our nation’s capital,” Kasey Cronquist, NABC president, said in the release. “Champions in the House like Representatives Chavez-DeRemer and Pingree, and in the Senate like Senator Stabenow, show how widespread the appreciation for blueberries runs in D.C."

Related news: NABC to explore 'inspiring possibilities' at Blueberry Summit

Blueberries are not just nutritious, they’re also an economic driver throughout the country, Cronquist said.

“While July is an excellent month for blueberries, NABC advocates for the industry year-round, promoting the benefits of our produce and supports legislation and regulation that bolster the blueberry industry across the country,” Cronquist said.  

Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, held a state product giveaway July 27, sharing some of Oregon and Maine’s finest blueberries with their fellow members of Congress and their staff to celebrate National Blueberry Month, the release said.

“I enjoyed having the opportunity to celebrate National Blueberry Month by giving my colleagues in Congress a tase of what my state has to offer,” Chavez-DeRemer said in the release.

"Oregon is home to a wide variety of specialty crops, and as a member of the Agriculture Committee, I’ll continue making it a top priority to support the specialty crop growers," Chavez-DeRemer added.
 
“With over 500 growers across Maine, our state’s wild blueberry industry has contributed an estimated $250 million to our economy in a small state of only 1.3 million people — so you can see how important this is to our agricultural sector,” Pingree said in the release. “Maine wild blueberries are special — they are uniquely cultivated and have very high antioxidant properties. I hope all my House Agriculture Committee members and their staff enjoyed this little taste of Maine. I couldn’t think of a better way to close out National Blueberry Month.”