Blueberry

North American Highbush Blueberry Market Situation
Two types of blueberries are grown in North America, the highbush and the lowbush. The highbush blueberry, also known as a “cultivated” blueberry,is commercially grown in 34 states and two Canadian provinces. Developed almost 100 years ago from highbush blueberry species in the wild, the highbush is sold both fresh and frozen. The lowbushblueberry, also known as the “wild” blueberry, is grown in Maine and Eastern Canada and is primarily sold as a frozen blueberry. Information for this report focuses on the highbush blueberry industry.Spring 2011 Specify Real Blueberries Blueberry production has soared with new acres, farming and processing efficiencies. The production of North American Blueberries in 2010 was 477 million lb, up from450 million lb. in 2009.
millions of lb.

North American Highbush Blueberry Production By Region
150 100 50 0
West Midwest Northeast South
Process Fresh

Blueberries provide productauthenticity, luscious color, and real fruit benefits adding value to most any product. The fruit’s natural blue pigment provides an identifiable way for customers to spot real blueberry containing products.Consumers prefer real blueberries over artificial. Consumers want blueberries in every bite and will pay more for products containing real blueberries. In key-person interviews, 88.8% of consumers wouldpay 50 cents or more for products with real blueberries. Focus group respondents would pay 15 to 25% more for products with real blueberries. (Source: Hebert Research, Inc., 2008.)

North AmericanHighbush Blueberry Production
600 500 400 300 200 0 1986 1990 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 100

Market Demand for Blueberries An increasing percentage of the US crop is exported, and exports account foran estimated 16% of shipments. The demand for frozen blueberries has boomed, especially in Japan, South Korea and China. Manufacturers are producing blueberry containing products at record clips...