While 2020 was disruptive for the blueberry export industry, more markets are opening up across the globe, and the industry has only scratched the surface of global market potential. On this episode of “The Business of Blueberries,” we sit down with an export expert to discuss what’s in store for 2021 blueberry export markets. 

Hosts Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) and the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), and Alicia Adler, vice president of global business development for USHBC and NABC, are joined by Terry Fasel, director of international sales at Oregon Berry Packing Inc. 

“The consumer is going to tell us what we need to ship. Because it doesn’t matter what I grow, it matters what they want. And if we can provide that, they’re going to take it.” - Terry Fasel

“The thing that’s hard to wrap my mind around is how many different [Chinese] markets you can play in. It’s almost infinite … we’re going to see a lot of fruit flowing into the China from the U.S.” - Terry Fasel

Topics covered include: 

• Assessing the uncertainty in the export market coming out of the pandemic.
• What consumers are looking for in blueberries, and opportunities to market health research internationally. 
• Opportunities for the U.S. blueberry industry in the Chinese market.  
• Emerging markets in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. 

Crop Report

The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout North and South America. In this episode, you’ll hear from Mario Ramírez in Mexico, Neil Moore in North Carolina, Eric Stafne in Mississippi, Ken Patterson in Florida, Bill Steed in California and Derrin Wheeler in Georgia. This was recorded on May 19, 2021.

Marketing Boost

In this week’s Marketing Boost, USHBC/NABC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jennifer Sparks discusses National Blueberry Cheesecake Day, happening May 26. To celebrate, USHBC created a shareable social media image that’s available to download and share on your social media channels.