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, a Michigan blueberry grower and the vice president of product management at Naturipe Farms. Bocock also serves as vice chair of the USHBC Promotion Committee. We’ve made it an annual tradition to talk to Bocock and get his analysis and outlook on the blueberry market. Listeners may remember him from Episode 002, Episode 046 and Episode 097. Joining Bocock and Cronquist is Grant Prentice, director of strategic insights at Padilla FoodMinds. Prentice has been an instrumental partner on many USHBC strategic initiatives, and offers great insight into our efforts to drive demand today and into the future. 

“As part of the Promotion Committee, one thing that we have focused on in July with retail, is doing some retail promotions to really help drive awareness in store in the consumer's face at the point of purchase time. …So that's a big deal over the next three or four weeks. I think that this is going to be the most critical point of the summer for domestic producers.” - Brian Bocock

 Topics covered include: 

• An introduction to Bocock and Prentice.
• A review of the USHBC Promotion Committee's efforts to promote blueberries during National Blueberry Month.
• A glimpse into the future promotional opportunities the industry is preparing to pursue.

Crop Report

The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Pat Goin in Indiana, Jason Smith in British Columbia, Alan Schreiber in Washington, TJ Hafner in Oregon and Brody Schropp in Michigan. This was recorded on July 27, 2023.