With the domestic blueberry season on the horizon, Florida will be the first state to enter production. Florida is not only a vital state for blueberry production, it has also been a hotbed for industry-changing blueberry genetics research. On this week’s episode, we talk about all things Florida blueberries. 

Host Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) and the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), is joined Brittany Lee, executive director at Florida Blueberry Growers.

“In my lifetime, the Florida blueberry industry went from a very small, niche boutique industry to the cornerstone of domestic production. We were the first state to produce blueberries and that’s in large part due to the University of Florida’s UF/IFAS breeding program.”  - Brittany Lee

“We’re an important part of Florida agriculture and an important part of the blueberry industry nationwide, and that’s not going to change. Growers in Florida are passionate about what we do and we’re passionate in making sure that our consumers have our product in their stores.” - Brittany Lee

Topics covered include: 

• Lee’s experience and history in the Florida blueberry industry. 
• Florida’s legacy in blueberry breeding.
• A preview of the 2021 domestic crop.
• COVID-19 impacts on Florida growers.

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 Juan Soria Morales in Mexico, Luis Vegas in Peru, and Andres Armstrong in Chile. This was recorded on Feb. 24, 2021.