Latest News From Southeast Blueberries

Central Florida blueberry fields for Dundee-based Florida Classic Growers Inc. should start harvest the last week of March, said Al Finch, president.

Southeast U.S. blueberry shipments showed mixed trends in 2021, USDA data shows.

It’s more difficult to grow organic berries in the humid, rainy Southeastern part of the U.S. compared to arid California, but growers in Florida are still increasing their stock. 

Organic blueberries are not on the plate for many Southeastern growers as they cite insufficient demand compared to the costs and the region’s disease-prone humid climate.

Southeastern blueberry growers, after two years of weather-related low harvests, are optimistic but cautious about a normal season.

Catch up on companies involved in growing, shipping and marketing blueberries in the Southeast.

Wish Farms will have close to 4 million pounds of Florida blueberries in 2018, up about 20% from a year ago, a quarter million pounds of which are organic.

Year-round berry marketer Alpine Fresh has taken steps to increase volumes on organic and conventional blueberries this year.

Reaching beyond the traditional marketing target of 25- to 44-year-old women shoppers, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council wants to increase demand from moderate consumers of blueberries.

The Southeast U.S. blueberry crop is looking good.

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.

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