Strong berry season anticipated despite challenges

Despite some early unfavorable weather in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest growing regions, grower-shippers say blueberries, raspberries and blackberries should be plentiful this summer, and quality should be good.

Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms had one of its most challenging spring weather patterns in years, said Kasey Kelley, senior director of business development.

“In the Southeast, we had several freeze events reduce the blueberry crop,” he said.

“California had some freeze events, as well, with fluctuating temperatures during the spring that affected both the strawberries and the blueberries.”

Average berry size has been smaller than previous years as a result.

“The Pacific Northwest had one of the coldest and wettest springs in years, so all eyes are on how that will eventually affect crop yields and fruit size this season,” Kelley said.

A heatwave in California brought a quick end to that crop, which is causing a gap in supply in the West, he said in mid-June.

Kelley said he expected blueberry prices to be higher in June and early July compared to last year, then adjust down to similar fob prices in late July and early August. 

“Raspberries and blackberries will see similar prices to last year,” he said.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Well-Pict Inc. began shipping raspberries out of Watsonville in May and will continue until the end of October, said Jim Grabowski, director of marketing.The berries were exhibiting excellent quality with great size and taste, he said.

Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms will ship organic and conventional blueberries, raspberries and blackberries this summer, said Nick Wishnatzki, public relations manager.

“As we move into the thick of summer, blueberries will be coming from New Jersey, California, Oregon, Michigan and British Columbia,” he said. “Raspberries and blackberries will be coming from our ranches in the Santa Maria, Calif., region, [and] we will also have blackberries coming from North Carolina and Georgia.” Volume of all varieties should be up compared to last year, he said.

The power of blueberries

The blueberry harvest is going strong in New Jersey, said Dennis Doyle, chairman of the New Jersey Blueberry Advisory Council and owner of E.G. Doyle Farms, New Lisbon, N.J.

The Fourth of July is a big day for New Jersey blueberries. “We really are ramped up then,” he said. Volume is expected to be similar to last year, Doyle said, and quality was good, despite some early frosts and freezes.

July is National Blueberry Month, one of five “power periods” for the Folsom, Calif.-based U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, pointed out Kasey Cronquist, president of the USHBC and the North American Blueberry Council. “It falls during a time where many U.S. producers are in the midst of harvest, and U-Pick farms are in full swing,” he said.

USHBC has a host of promotions to drive consumer interest and blueberry sales, as well as resources and toolkits for growers and retailers to leverage, he said.

The U.S. highbush blueberry market — including domestic and imported blueberries for 2022-2023 — is estimated at 1.522 billion pounds, an increase of 13.2% over the 2021-2022 season.

A bevy of berries

The berry line from Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppy includes blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, said Jason Fung, vice president of categories and strategy.

“We grow our blueberries domestically — in the U.S. and Canada — while raspberries and blackberries are grown domestically and in Mexico,” he said.

Cool, damp weather during spring and early summer could delay the company’s blueberry harvest in the Pacific Northwest by a week or two, Fung said. Picking was expected to get underway by July 15.

Oppy’s berry volume is up across the board for this year, which should present plenty of promotional opportunities, he said.

Naturipe Farms anticipates significant increases in its Mighty Blues label jumbo blueberries this summer from New Jersey, Michigan and the Pacific Northwest and from Peru in late summer and fall, Kelley said.

Salinas-based GEM-Pack Berries LLC/Red Blossom Sales Inc. offers conventional raspberries from Baja California through August, and organic raspberries kick in later in the summer and early fall, said Michelle Deleissegues, director of marketing. 

The company was importing blackberries from central Mexico this spring, but weather brought the program to an early close, she said. The firm expected to ship blueberries from central Mexico through June.

Despite strong production of all berries this summer, grower-shippers were anxious about the impact of U.S. economic conditions.

“There is anxiety about inflation’s lasting effects over the coming months,” Wishnatzki said. “For the past decade-plus, our industry has been seemingly recession proof,” he said. But this time could be different. “There could be a bumpy ride ahead as consumer trends shift in a weaker economy.”

The cost of doing business

Rising costs are top of mind for New Jersey growers, Doyle said.

“Pricing will be a big deal with the cost of fuel and supplies,” he said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I never have seen anything like this.”

Naturipe’s Kelley also expressed concern. “We are facing many cost challenges this year, as most materials and inputs have seen about a 25% increase in costs across the board,” he said. “Supply chain challenges have also affected how we source packaging materials, so there is less room for error in planning.”

Even when labor is available, wage costs are up, as are harvest costs for growers, he said.

Summer is berry season

Nonetheless, berry suppliers and promoters remained optimistic for a strong season.

“On the Fourth of July, blueberries add a nutritious boost of blue to summertime celebrations, perfect on-the-go snacking, or part of a festive red, white and blue recipe or party spread,” Cronquist said. “All of this makes it a great time of year for retailers to harness momentum and build upon seasonal trends.”

Summer is the perfect time to promote all berries, Kelley added. “Different berries will peak at different times, giving consumers access to all the great summer berries they love.”