Fresh Trends 2023: Blueberries still have a big presence

Editor's Note: The following report is from The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023, which provides insight based on survey responses from consumers. Since 1983, The Packer has sponsored 40 major consumer studies to track trends in the purchases and consumption of fresh produce, documenting the fluctuation in purchases of specific fruits and vegetables as well as changing attitudes toward industry issues.

With imports now accounting for nearly 60% of total blueberry supplies, blueberry consumption has seen big gains in recent years.

The USDA reports that retail per capita availability of blueberries increased from 1.2 pounds in 2011 to 2.1 pounds in 2019.

The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 survey revealed that 37% of consumers reported blueberry purchases in the past year, compared with 41% in Fresh Trends 2022 and 43% in Fresh Trends 2021.

USDA statistics show that the average blueberry fob price in 2022 was $19.84 per carton, down 5% from $20.82 per carton in 2021.

The USDA reported the average retail advertised price for blueberries was $3.83 per unit in 2022, up 6% from $3.60 per unit in 2021. The number of stores that promoted blueberries in 2022 totaled 964,054, down 9% from 1.1 million in 2021.

Higher income levels are associated with greater blueberry purchases, according to Fresh Trends 2023, as 47% of consumers making more than $100,000 a year reported blueberry purchases, compared with just 26% making under $25,000 annually.

Older consumers were the most frequent purchasers of blueberries, according to Fresh Trends 2023, with 44% of shoppers aged 60 and older reporting fresh blueberry purchases, compared with 41% of those from ages 50-59, 33% of those from ages 40-49, 34% of those from ages 30-39 and 29% of those from ages 18-29.