In this episode of “The Business of Blueberries,” host Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) and the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), is joined by Brian Bocock, vice president of product management at Naturipe Farms. You heard from him back in Episode 002 and Episode 046. Now back for his third appearance, Bocock provides his outlook on what’s ahead for blueberries.

“If, as an industry, we can turn that grab a boost of blue into a consistent delivery, 52 weeks a year, when they consistently go in and grab their boost of blue and it delivers against their expectation for firmness and flavor – boom! Now we're cooking on all cylinders and it's everybody across the board. Cause we all will succeed if all of us are hitting the same way.” – Brian Bocock

“When you get into these environments where you have reduced production due to weather events, and all of a sudden you pick up for two or three weeks … it can be pretty dynamic. And if you miss it by a week or two, it can mean whether a grower makes money or doesn't make money in this situation … so we're optimistic. Certainly, we have some pain for some of our producers out there that took some significant damage. But we are optimistic on where this marketplace is and is going to be over the next couple of three months.” – Brian Bocock

Topics covered include: 

• Expectations for the 2022 Blueberry market.
• The value of different varieties, and the impact they may have on consumers’ buying habits.
• The nuances in the blueberry market, and how producers can take advantage of residual increased interest in blueberries brought on by the pandemic.

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 Ken Patterson in Florida, Brandon Wade in Georgia, Neil Moore in North Carolina and Todd Sanders in California. This was recorded on May 4, 2022.

Marketing Boost

Food is fuel for the brain and in honor of Brain Health Month, coming up in June, USHBC is inspiring consumers to get a brain boost with blueberries! Eating fresh or frozen blueberries each day within an overall healthy diet and lifestyle is a smart choice that can support brain health. As part of our national plan to promote the benefits of blueberries, USHBC is sharing a range of informative and enticing resources, including blueberry recipes, nutritional information and health research. And our Blue Crew is rolling out original content for blueberry-loving fans throughout the month.This group of credible third-party experts includes physicians, registered dietitians, fitness professionals, and wellness and lifestyle experts who are sharing social media content and custom recipes as part of the campaign.