Using substrates to grow blueberries can be a time-intensive process for growers. However, if done right, substrates can create higher yields and a higher return on investment, while using less water. Substrates are a possible solution to grow more blueberries with fewer inputs. 

Hosts Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) and the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), and Rod Cook, industry veteran and the chair of the Blueberry Technology and Innovation Committee, are joined by Pablo Segovia of Legro Grou in The Netherlands, and Jordan Pratt, farm director for Kauai Organic Farms, to talk about the world of substrates and their uses in blueberry farming. 

“We used to say we were getting three times the amount of growth [using substrates] in one season as compared to our soil planting … it was definitely worth the effort … .” - Jordan Pratt

“It’s really all about collecting the right ingredients and the right material.” - Pablo Segovia

Topics covered include: 

• How Pratt started using substrates in California’s Central Valley.
• The scientific and technical makeup of Legro Grou’s substrate material. 
• Pros and cons of using substrates. 
• Building a system to accommodate substrates. 
• The role substrates will play in the future of blueberry growing.

For more information about Legro Grou, please visit their website at https://www.legro.nl/en/. 

Crop Report

The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout North America. In this episode, you’ll hear from Andres Armstrong in Chile. This was recorded on Dec. 9, 2020. 

Marketing Boost - Thought Leadership

Thought leadership is a great way to connect with customers through brand communications. In this week’s Marketing Boost, USHBC/NABC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jennifer Sparks discusses the importance of thought leadership and how USHBC used this tactic at last week’s Flavor Experience virtual conference.