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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 David Magaña, VP and senior analyst at RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. Magaña is responsible for covering and analyzing the U.S. and North American fresh fruit and vegetable industries for RaboBank, and his insights are deeply relevant to anyone in the ag industry. At the recent Blueberry Convention in San Diego, he talked about macro trends impacting the blueberry industry. “The inflation that we've been facing lately is the result of the collision of two massive forces. On the one side, we see an increase in demand for food and for different types of food. … And on the other hand, we see on the supply side some of the challenges that have been for years, such as labor constraints, and some new ones that have come to become a true challenge over the past few years, such as logistical challenges.” - David Magaña  Topics covered include:  An introduction to Magaña and his work for RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. An exploration of macro economic trends, universal inflation and global influences on the blueberry industry.  Future projections and expectations for the blueberry industry.  Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru, Andres Armstrong in Chile, and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on March 15, 2023.

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 co-CEOs Cort Brazelton and Oscar Verges of Fall Creek Nursery. They discuss the origin of the Fall Creek, the current state of blueberry genetics, their Sekoya platform and their support of the USHBC’s leadership development program.   “We're a big believer that best genetics don't come from one place. They come from lots of places. And then on the genetic side, we're also a breeding organization and bring those products to market as well. So we're a nursery, we're a breeding company and we serve growers.” - Cort Brazelton   “Blueberries are moving up a notch or a magnitude when it comes to the produce industry. … Blueberries are on everybody's radar, and we do have a tremendous opportunity in front of us to go in this virtuous circle of better blueberries that lead to not just trial, but also repeat and people staying in that category and growing it.” - Oscar Verges    Topics covered include: How Fall Creek’s co-CEOs collaborate to promote Fall Creek, and where they see blueberry genetics heading. The unique opportunities provided by the Sekoya platform and what they offer members. The current state of the blueberry industry and the potential Fall Creek sees for the future. 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 Luis Vegas in Peru. This was recorded on March 1, 2023.    

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 Brittany Lee, vice president of Florida Blue Farms and the newest crop report contributor. Lee has a strong background in Florida agriculture, having grown up there. She also served as the executive director of the Florida Blueberry Association.   “So of course taste is always going to be a factor, but additionally, plant structure is very important. Machine harvestability is very important. Because of machine harvestability, a condensed crop is also important so that you can machine the crop less times to prevent plant damage or any injury to the root systems. I would say machine-ability, condensed crop, great tasting … those are all things that we’re trying to look for and identify.” - Brittany Lee   “I think that our group of Florida growers that I've had to mentor me and to look up to in the industry, they're just tremendous growers. They're extremely knowledgeable and always on the cutting edge of innovation and technology. I think we're early adapters in Florida and we've pushed the envelope on machine harvestable varieties for southern highbush. … Of course quality has always been our number one concern. We don't want there to be a visible or detectable difference between something that's hand picked or machine picked. And that's a high bar that we've set for ourselves as growers to achieve and strive for. But you know, I think it's something that everyone here is serious about.” - Brittany Lee    Topics covered include: Lee’s experience and contributions to the blueberry industry. New genetic varieties and properties growers are most interested in and prioritize when making selections. The unique characteristics involved in farming blueberries in Florida. 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. This was recorded on February 22, 2023.

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 Leslie Wada, Ph.D., senior director of nutrition and health research at USHBC/NABC, and Aedín Cassidy, Ph.D., chair in nutrition and preventive medicine and director for interdisciplinary research at the Institute for Global Food Security. Last month, the USHBC hosted a Blueberry Research Roundtable in Washington, D.C., where a group of experts discussed topics related to the five primary health research pillars: brain health, cardiovascular health, gut health, diabetes and prediabetes, and healthy living. “The idea was: Could we bring some of these experts together in one room, talk about what we know about blueberries and health, and what do we need to know? Where are we going to go in our pipeline of research that we'll be continually funding in the next five years or more? And who better to discuss this than people who have been doing research in blueberries or are excited about starting some research in blueberries?” - Leslie Wada, Ph.D. “The quality of data that we have now is so much better than we had even five years ago, particularly in relation to blueberries. And that's really thanks to the USHBC committee because they spent a lot of time thinking about what to fund and focusing on a few key areas. So that investment is really starting to pay off.” - Aedín Cassidy, Ph.D.    Topics covered include: The work of the blueberry industry’s scientific advisory board. Highlights from the Blueberry Health Research Roundtable that took place in December. Details on the latest health and nutrition research on blueberries. Opportunities for future blueberry health research.   Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on February 8, 2023.

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 Curt Granger, vice president of global marketing and communications for NABC and USHBC; and valued agency partner, Grant Prentice, director of strategic insights at Padilla FoodMinds. Two years ago, the USHBC launched a new strategic position and call-to-action through the Grab a Boost of Blue program. The industry is seeing this program inspire consumers, drive demand and increase sales. This episode covers the Grab a Boost of Blue program, its results so far and how the blueberry industry members can get involved.   “The goal was really twofold. One was to create a message that really celebrates the healthfulness of eating blueberries that USHBC can share with consumers. But also to create programming that is simple and easy for marketers to adopt and use within the context of their own programming.” - Grant Prentice   “It's gonna have to be a collaborative, kind of all hands on deck from our side of it, marketers and USHBC, to take a look at the different promotions and to support them if that's ideally where we we want to be.The tighter we get in working together the stronger we go to market and the stronger this brand grows.” - Curt Granger    Topics covered include: The progress, initial results and proven effect of Grab a Boost of Blue. Various uses of Grab a Boost of Blue and upcoming collaborations to promote the industry. How industry members can access Grab a Boost of Blue licensing and promotional materials, including a promotional calendar of upcoming power periods.   Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru, Mario Ramirez in Mexico and Andres Armstrong in Chile. This was recorded on January 25, 2023.   The Blueberry Boost The next big blueberry industry event is The Blueberry Convention, Feb. 21-24 in San Diego. Join us for inspiring keynotes, innovative technology, business solutions and networking opportunities. The event kicks off with the first-ever Grab a Boost of Blue Golf Tournament on Feb. 21, followed by a reception and meet and greet with exhibitors. There will be sessions on data analytics, industry insights and a panel discussion on best bee practices. Reserve your seat here.

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 José Antonio Gómez-Bazán, CEO of Camposol. Camposol is a multinational company that provides families around the world with fresh and healthy food. It has operations in Peru, Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Uruguay, and a presence around the world. Gómez-Bazán took on the CEO role at Camposol in 2021 after a decade with the company. He is a board member of the United Fresh Produce Association and a past board member of the Produce Marketing Association. José Antonio discusses the rise of blueberries in the Camposol company, the value blueberries offer the world and finds insight in the promotion of other produce and how that could be used to also promote the blueberry industry.  “I do believe that there is a potential for every single lunchbox in North America and in the world to carry a small package of blueberries. … This is super convenient. This is super healthy. It goes in line with every single principle that ESG and sustainability and any other trend that is out there is saying. The amount of package they use is minimum. The amount of process they use is minimum. It's a super-efficient product by itself. All the way from the farm to the lunchbox.” - José Antonio Gómez-Bazán “This is not about fighting for the same size of a pie. This is making the pie bigger and bigger and bigger. And the only way the pie is gonna get bigger is with investment. The consumer needs to understand why he needs to eat more blueberries. … I do believe that the convenience of blueberries is unique and it drives thousands of opportunities” - José Antonio Gómez-Bazán  Topics covered include:  An introduction to Gómez-Bazán, CEO of Camposol. The journey for blueberries to become Camposol’s dominant focus.  Correlations between growth of the avocado market share and what the blueberry industry can learn from avocados success. New and expanding global blueberry markets, and the messages consumers need to hear. 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 Luis Vegas in Peru. This was recorded on January 19, 2023.  Blueberry Boost The year 2022 saw the highest number of December blueberry shipments in history! Peruvian imports slowed after their peak season in December while Chiles began. Total fresh blueberry imports into the United States increased by 35% in December with the majority marketed as conventional. December marks the fourth month in a row for decreases in average price per pound for all fresh blueberries making fruit more accessible to less frequent blueberry consumers.

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 Luis Vegas of Proarandanos. Vegas shares the challenges and successes the blueberry industry has faced in Peru this past year, and his optimism for the bright future ahead.   “I would say this has been the most challenging season for Peru in blueberries. … So the margins of the business have been tightening and tightening, and this has been a really challenging season for many companies.” - Luis Vegas   “We need a 52-week a year supply, we need good quality, and also we need to promote consumption of blueberries worldwide.” - Luis Vegas   “We are lucky that we have a great product with these amazing benefits. So we need champions. And I think the USHBC has great tools to arm these champions to go and start creating awareness for blueberries.” - Luis Vegas    Topics covered include: A review of Peru’s 2022 season. Specific challenges and success Peru has experienced in the past year. The collaboration between the USHBC and industry partners like Proarandanos to promote blueberry consumption globally. Optimism for the future of blueberries around the world.   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 Luis Vegas in Peru. This was recorded on January 11, 2023.

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 Josh Miers-Jones and James French of TOMRA. Miers-Jones is the global category director for blueberries at TOMRA, and French is the company’s head of innovation. Together, they discuss the latest technology, their approach to innovation, and the role of data and artificial intelligence in the future of blueberries. “You have to be able to pay attention to each individual berry to maximize the value of what you're looking at because you can have one bad berry in that package and that might spoil that experience for the consumer.” James French “Where can you be more efficient? Where can you save labor? Where can you maybe unlock other ways of doing business that you haven't in the past? Can you enable machine harvest for fresh by doing things a particular way and look for those really value-add type transformations in business by using technology in the right way?” - Josh Miers-Jones Topics covered include:  An overview of TOMRA’s business and what led them to blueberries. The important role data can play in personalizing the blueberry experience for individual consumers.  How advancements in artificial intelligence technology can unlock new value opportunities for the blueberry industry.  The new technology TOMRA plans to showcase at The Blueberry Convention in February.  We look forward to seeing you at The Blueberry Convention in San Diego Feb. 21-24! Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on January 6, 2023. 

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), reviews trends, highlights and milestones shared on the podcast in 2022.  The discussion features clips from these previous “The Business of Blueberries” episodes:  Driving the Forward Momentum in the Blueberry Industry With Soren Bjorn Quality and Genetics – Part Two With Brad Moorer of MBG Marketing Global Market Opportunities With Steve Magami Elevating the Consumer Experience With Soren Bjorn 2022 Trends and Opportunities With Brian Bocock Wishes Do Come True, With Gary Wishnatzki of Wish Farms A Legacy of Blueberry Research With Bernadine Strik “The really good thing we've seen is that berries in general, including blueberries, have done really well during the pandemic. And I think we have a lot of reasons to believe that a lot of that will stay with us as people have increasingly made berries a part of their healthier lifestyle.” - Soren Bjorn “We were down, but we're not out. We've got a lot of fight left in us and there's a space in the global marketplace for all of us, and we need to carve that niche out. If we can do that with superior quality and better genetics, we're gonna be here now and well into the future.” - Brad Moorer “There are a lot of exciting opportunities ahead for blueberries, both in household penetration and a new global market. We have come a very long way to delight more consumers on a more consistent basis. I couldn't be more excited about what's yet to come in 2023 and beyond, but it's gonna take a great deal of innovation and collaboration to rise to this opportunity.” - Kasey Cronquist Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on December 21, 2022.

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 Colin Fain of Agronometrics, International Blueberry Organization (IBO) report contributor Matt Ogg and USHBC/NABC Director of Business Intelligence Joe Vargas. They discuss the recent IBO Global State of the Blueberry Industry Report, which includes extensive research and insights into current dynamics impacting the blueberry industry worldwide. “It's a great service that the IBO is putting together and making available for free to everybody in the industry. And it's something that I haven't seen any other industry come together to provide to the many players within it.” - Colin Fain “In a nutshell, this report is looking at the commercial realities faced by growers and how they're responding, but it's also looking at where the opportunities lie and what people should have their eye on everywhere.” - Matt Ogg Topics covered include:  Highlights of the International Blueberry Organization’s Annual Blueberry Industry Report. An analysis of the results of the report and key takeaways for the upcoming production year.  Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on December 7, 2022. 

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), shares the responses, comments and questions from industry stakeholders about the data platform provided by USHBC. Joe Vargas, director of business intelligence for the USHBC, joins Cronquist to share how we can develop this platform to help drive our category and ensure that blueberries continue to be recognized for the value they bring to every produce department.   “I think to sum it up in one word really, it's the future. You know data is the lifeblood of every organization. It's kind of at the top of a lot of people's minds and the tip of the tongue in a lot of these industries. And I think with the project that we've got going on, we're trying to fill those gaps.” - Joe Vargas   “The value that comes from eliminating those blind spots in business, those are gonna be what bring home the margins. Those are gonna be what keeps businesses operating. And that's what we have to focus on, is to make sure we can bring in the data to make sure that we avoid some of the other destinations that we've seen some other commodities roll into. And I think that blueberries have a fantastic trajectory, but we just need to make sure that we understand what that trajectory is going to look like and what the future holds.” - Joe Vargas   Topics covered include: Review of the data program USHBC is launching, and a description of the benefits it will offer industry stakeholders. Feedback and questions about the program from participants at The Blueberry Summit.   Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today, you’ll hear from Nestor Vega in Mexico and Luis Vegas in Peru. This was recorded on November 30, 2022.    

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), sits down with University of Florida blueberry breeder Patricio Muñoz, Ph.D., to talk about flavor. This was recorded live at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Florida.  “The way we do it is every cultivar we release is usually run for sensory panels up to three years. So 300 people have tested this fruit and have given their opinion on if they like it or not. ” - Patricio Muñoz, Ph.D. “We are able to, using artificial intelligence and machine learning, train a model to be able to predict what people will like based on all this data we put together.” - Patricio Muñoz, Ph.D. Topics covered include:  How the University of Florida collects data on flavor to guide its blueberry breeding program. The factors that influence overall blueberry flavor. How all of this knowledge informs tools like the “flavor wheel” for blueberries. 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 Luis Vegas in Peru. This was recorded on November 16, 2022. 

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), discusses the tactics and leverage retailers across the country have experienced with the Grab a Boost of Blue campaign. The audio is taken from the retail-focused session at The Blueberry Summit last month in Nashville. You'll also hear from Don Ladhoff, president of FreshSmartSolutions.  “I really believe it's one of the strongest marketing message calls to action that I've seen out there, and really wanted to be able to show the power that it has. So I reached out to a number of retailers. …The results strongly validated the power of Grab a Boost of Blue and what it can do for retailers in delivering added blueberry sales. ” - Don Ladhoff “Retail dietitians are absolutely in favor of helping us promote the boost of blue message. The head dietitian at United thanked me for bringing this opportunity to her so that she had another reason to get behind blueberries and promote that. So a very willing audience there.” - Don Ladhoff  Topics covered include:  A review of the impact of the Grab a Boost of Blue campaign across seven retailers nationwide.  Feedback from retailers and a discussion of the most significant factors affecting their consumers’ purchasing decisions. 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  Luis Vegas in Peru. This was recorded on November 9, 2022 Blueberry Boost The next big blueberry event is The Blueberry Convention, taking place February 21-24, 2023 in San Diego. Join us for inspiring keynotes, innovative technology, business solutions and networking opportunities. Reserve your seat for The Blueberry Convention here. 

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 Grant Prentice, senior vice president of strategic insights at Padilla FoodMinds. Cronquist and Prentice discuss the recently conducted study on blueberry Usage and Attitude (U&A) study, which provided insights into blueberry consumers and their preferences and habits.  “Blueberries have enjoyed tremendous growth in recent decades, but it's important for us in the industry to not just know the volume of sales, but also who these consumers are and what's motivating them to buy.” - Kasey Cronquist “We hope that the industry takes this data set, and develops their own point of view about what this means for their brand, their marketing programs, and maybe even gaining some insights into … collaborative opportunities, maybe with USHBC, to do a better job positioning blueberries against this consumer.” - Grant Prentice Topics covered include:  What a Usage and Attitude (U&A) study is and why USHBC conducts them. Key insights gleaned from the most recent U&A study, and how they differ from previous studies. How this data can be used to help the blueberry industry unite and focus marketing efforts. How the results of the study will be used for strategy and implementation. Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on October 19, 2022 Blueberry Boost USHBC/NABC Director of Business Intelligence Joe Vargas provides an update based on the September Nielsen report. For more category insights, visit the Blueberry Data and Insights Center.

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), shares an overview of key trends impacting global blueberry production and consumption. These clips were recorded for a webinar hosted by the International Fresh Produce Association. Cronquist was joined by colleagues from Chile, Mexico, Peru and South Africa as they presented and discussed challenges and opportunities in the global berry industry.  “We have seen clearly that when you have year-round supply, we're staying on store shelves, we're able to provide consumers with what they're looking for, and that growth pattern is going to continue to increase. And our job at the council is to continue to drive that demand, while also driving the value of that blueberry to remain high over time.” - Kasey Cronquist, USHBC and NABC president  “Logistic disruptions were our No. 1 issue this last season. Not only for blueberries from Chile, but for other species too. So this is something that we are working on to solve the product coming into the future.” - Andres Armstrong, Chilean Blueberry Committee executive director “One of the biggest challenges for the Mexican industry is to diversify the markets. Because of the perishable condition of berries, our main market remains North America, but we need to diversify markets and we need better logistics in terms of air freight.” - Jose Luis Bustamente, president of Aneberries Topics covered include:  Challenges and opportunities faced in North America, Chile, Mexico and Peru.  The global blueberry market potential and current trajectory from global stakeholders. Obstacles found in international markets and the steps being taken to address them. Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on October 14, 2022. Marketing Boost USHBC/NABC Vice President of Engagement and Education Amanda Griffin showcases the council’s presence at two upcoming events: The Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando and Asia Fruit Logistica in Bangkok. Be sure to join the blueberry industry for meet and greets at both events! 

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 Steve Magami, co-founder and chairman of Agrovision. Agrovision is a vertically integrated grower, packer, shipper and marketer of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and table grapes from Perú, Mexico and Morocco. Magami discusses how Agrovision views the global opportunities in blueberries, and shares his thoughts on where the industry is headed.  “We see untapped growth potential globally. And what I mean by that is even in the most developed market in the U.S. … And then when you look to markets that are just taking off, I mean France is just taking off, Asia. We see what feels like unlimited growth potential again for the right product.” - Steve Magami Topics covered include:  Getting to know Magami, co-founder and chair of Agrovision. An exploration of the opportunities and trajectories in the global blueberry market. Agrovision and Fruitist’s market share, and what they bring to the blueberry industry.  Reminder to fill out our listener survey. Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on October 5, 2022. 

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 New Jersey blueberry grower Art Galletta. Galletta shares his experience growing up as a familiar name in the blueberry industry and his family’s history in the business. He also discusses the New Jersey crop this year and his view on the importance of USHBC and NABC.  “Taste is still really high on the criteria and along with that is firmness and the ability to carry. You need good, strong berries that will taste good and take a ride and store well so that it can go a longer distance and spread out your product. That's a way to add value to your business is to make it to more markets ” - Art Galletta  “I think we need to create more and better opportunities to get the newer generation involved. … I see a lot of leadership qualities in these kids and I'm encouraged that we're gonna turn it over to people that are capable.” - Art Galletta Topics covered include: What it’s like to be a legacy farmer in a family of blueberry growers in New Jersey. The Galletta family's journey in the blueberry industry, and Art’s influence on the NABC and USHBC. Galletta’s predictions for the future of the blueberry industry.   Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. The Pacific Northwest has basically wrapped up, marking the end of the domestic season for the year, but Doug Krahmer from Oregon joins us for a recap. He's joined by Luis Vegas in Peru and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on September 28, 2022.

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 Micah Weiss, sales and grower support at Fall Creek Farm & Nursery and USHBC/NABC’s own Amanda Griffin, vice president of engagement and education. Micah is part of the inaugural class of the Blueberry Industry Leadership Program, initiated and organized by USHBC. Together, Micah and Amanda discuss the benefits of this type of a program and what it can offer not only to the individuals that participate in it but the industry as a whole.  “Creating this program allows us to better engage with that group that applied and to also further have constituents that are active within your organization after they graduate from the program…. It helps to better develop the industry by developing those that are within it. And so it's a natural fit within our organization to figure out how we can better provide resources to the blueberry industry.” - Amanda Griffin “(USHBC) did a great job of having people from all parts of the country, but also all parts of the blueberry supply chain. No matter what we were talking about we kind of had an expert there on just about everything.” - Micah Weiss Topics covered include:  Meet and hear from Micah Weiss, sales and grower support at Fall Creek Farm & Nursery and USHBC/NABC’s own Amanda Griffin, vice president of engagement and education Discover the selection process and the value of the Blueberry Industry Leadership Program Explore the benefits this program offers to its participants and to the entire blueberry industry Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today you’ll hear from Luis Vegas in Peru, Doug Krahmer in Oregon, and Mario Ramirez in Mexico. This was recorded on September 14th, 2022.  Blueberry Boost The blueberry industry’s data and analytics program that is being developed will allow growers and handlers to acquire all of the data they need in one easy-to-access location. From dashboards to insights into movement to retail insights and beyond, the USHBC/NABC will leverage modern technologies to give an unprecedented level of transparency to the industry. Join us at the Blueberry Summit in Nashville on October 5 -7, 2022 to learn more. 

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 Joe Vargas, director of business intelligence at USHBC/NABC, and John Marshall, vice president of services at Bytecode IO. USHBC and NABC recently refreshed their organizational and programming strategies with an increased emphasis on data. A significant move to that end was hiring Vargas. Listen to meet Vargas, Marshall and the Bytecode team, and to learn about this exciting data endeavor.  “At Bytecode, we're a full stack data engineering firm. What we live and breathe every day is data platforms, technology and helping bring ultimately business vision to life. And we do that with deep technical expertise with folks who have been in this industry, working on these problems for 10-plus years.” - John Marshall  “This is the new way of the USHBC and it's the direction that we're heading. It’s a data-driven direction that's going to be able to pass insights off to the industry to be able to make those decisions they need. This isn't just, what is our inventory? What did we sell yesterday? What do we anticipate selling? This goes into, what are we doing at retail? What are consumers looking for?” - Joe Vargas “There's just so many ideas and so much innovation utilizing data in all these different facets, in service and growth. And so that's really, I think too, what John's talking about. It's not just about the industry data. Yeah, that's the topic at hand right now, but this is just a stepping stone. This is the basis for what we're going to be doing in the future.” - Joe Vargas Topics covered include:  An introduction to Bytecode IO and a discussion of the advantages it offers. How Vargas and the Bytecode IO team plan to bring more value to blueberry data.   How using data in new ways will benefit the blueberry industry.  Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. In this episode, you’ll hear from Rex Shulz in Michigan, Doug Krahmer in Oregon, Bryan Sakuma in Washington, Jason Smith in British Columbia, and Luis Veas in Peru. This was recorded on September 7, 2022. Blueberry Boost Get all the details on Blueberry Lane, our new trade show floor coming to The Blueberry Summit in Nashville October 5-7. Find out what the lane is all about, then reserve your seat for the summit here. 

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 Pamela Taylor, senior vice president and chief communications and marketing officer for Share Our Strength. As part of the journey to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit, USHBC celebrated grabbing a boost of blue and giving a boost to a good cause in partnership with No Kid Hungry during National Blueberry Month in July.   “No Kid Hungry is our marquee campaign, started back in 2010 with the goal of achieving our mission of ending childhood hunger in the U.S. This campaign is so unique in that it's the only campaign that solely focuses on children. … The No Kid Hungry campaign is designed to make sure each and every child who needs access to food gets it every single day. So our focus is three meals a day, 365 days a year for every child .” - Pamela Taylor “Participating in that 31-Day Challenge was important because it not only helped generate funds, which gets us closer to ending childhood hunger, but it was a campaign that also increased awareness of not only our work, but the power of partnerships working with the blueberry council and helping folks understand everyone has a strength to share. And you all were sharing your strength with us.” - Pamela Taylor Topics covered include:  Getting to know Pamela Taylor, senior vice president and chief communications and marketing officer for Share Our Strength.  Exploring the scope and impact No Kid Hungry has on food insecurity among children. Celebrating the collaboration between No Kid Hungry and USHBC during National Blueberry Month. Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. In this episode, you’ll hear from Doug Krahmer from Oregon, Bryan Sakuma from Washington, Jason Smith from British Columbia, Luis Vegas from Peru and Nestor Vega from Mexico. This was recorded on August 31, 2022. Blueberry Boost The blueberry industry will be taking over Nashville Oct. 5-7 for The Blueberry Summit! In this Blueberry Boost, Amanda Griffin, USHBC/NABC vice president of engagement and education, introduces the keynote speakers that will be featured at the event. Find out who’s speaking, then save your seat here.