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 NABC Director of Government Affairs Alyssa Houtby. Houtby leads the NABC’s advocacy efforts and works closely with Monument Advocacy, the council’s Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm. She shares the current state of the Farm Bill and discusses what specialty producers have to look forward to.

“We're well positioned with members of Congress and the administration to deliver for specialty crop producers. I think there's more interest than there ever has been in the past. We've got members on the House and Senate Ag Committee that represent states that are heavy into specialty crops. In the past, you may have seen more representation from your middle-America, row-crop producing states.” - Alyssa Houtby

Topics covered include: 

• An introduction to Houtby and her role with NABC. 
• The efforts and successes of the NABC’s advocacy on U.S. policy.

Crop Report

The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Mario Ramirez in Mexico and Daniel Bustamante in Peru. This was recorded on November 23, 2023.