Blueberry Exports Pt 2

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. If you love blueberries, this might be YOUR favorite time of the year with Washington blueberry harvest in full swing.

Washington Blueberry Commission Executive Director, Alan Schreiber says there should be plenty of blueberries for you and me, the domestic consumer, but at the same time they’re also working to expand their reach in certain export markets …

SCHREIBER … “The Washington and Oregon blueberries have teamed up, 50-50, to market blueberries in Viet Nam, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, both fresh and processed.”

The possibilities there, Schreiber believes are excellent …

SCHREIBER … “We think that is an area of tremendous growth potential, tremendous. And so, we are targeting that area. We’re in the third of a four-year effort to promote Northwest blueberries in Southeast Asia.”

Other Northwest crops, Schreiber says have marked the trail …

SCHREIBER … “What we’re finding is an ease of acceptance of Washington blueberries because of all of the work that’s been done by Washington Apple, Washington Cherries, and Pacific Northwest Pears. So, it’s an easy effort for us to kind of follow along their coattails.”

So, Schreiber says don’t miss out …

SCHREIBER … “There will be large volumes of blueberries into September and harvest ends pretty much around the end of September.”

Schreiber says blueberries are healthy and plentiful this year, so eat ‘em up!