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 Andres Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, to discuss the current season in Chile, the impact of the drop in Peruvian production and the future of blueberries in the region. Armstrong was also featured in episode 22, episode 75 and episode 134, as well as in several crop reports. 

“We are trying to work with our members, with the Chilean Blueberry Committee members, taking this opportunity to really prove to the market that Chile is a consistent, reliable supplier. Looking into the future, not specifically to this season, we want to be in the market in the coming years too.” - Andres Armstrong

Topics covered include: 

• An introduction to Armstrong and his work for the Chilean Blueberry Committee.
• The impact the Peruvian blueberry disruption is having on other South American blueberry markets.
• The future of the Chilean blueberry industry, and the volume of high-quality blueberries it’s capable of producing.

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 4, 2023.