Domestic organic blueberries approach the finish line

Production of U.S.-grown organic blueberries is moving toward the end of its season, but there will still be good supplies in August with sourcing transitioning to Mexico and Peru as year-round supply of the increasingly popular crop marches on.

“California Giant Berry Farms has organic blueberries from Oregon available now through late September,” said director of business development Brad Peterson. “While volumes are expected to decline significantly in early September, we anticipate availability to continue through the month’s end. As the Pacific Northwest crops come to a close, growing regions throughout Mexico are beginning in light volumes. Peru is projected to begin shipping organic blueberries after the first week of September.”

The end result, according to Peterson, is steady volume but not at promotable levels. “Organic blueberry volumes will remain steady throughout August before tapering off as the domestic season concludes,” he said. “Due to limited organic fruit availability in late summer, we anticipate minimal opportunities for organic blueberry promotions.”

Year-round demand

Commenting on overall demand for blueberries, Peterson said it remains strong year-round. But because of the availability of so many other fruit crops during the peak of the summer, there can be a supply-demand imbalance. “Stimulating greater consumption will help balance supply and demand, supporting both growers and consumers alike,” he said. “It's critical we push to increase consumer demand to keep prices strong and ensure the industry's sustainability.”

He added that in aggregate Watsonville, California-based California Giant Berry Farms is forecasting an increase in its own organic blueberry volume in the August through October 2024 period, compared to a year ago. “We anticipate increased organic production from Oregon and Peru during that time frame compared to last year,” he said. “Supply will come primarily from Oregon through the second week of September. Peru will represent most of our organic supply starting in the third week of September. We’re also looking to expand other options from other promising growing regions that will collectively increase our product availability.”

Stephen Paul, deciduous category manager for Homegrown Organic Farms in Porterville, California, agreed that the Northwest organic blueberry deal is winding down. “The peak of the season is over,” he said on July 29. “But there is still a decent crop in various districts.”

He noted that Homegrown has organic blueberry growers on both sides of the state, as the Northern Willamette Valley, near Salem, Oregon, is currently producing good volumes. Paul said it has been an up-and-down summer in Oregon with high temperatures impacting the organic blueberry crop from time to time. “But today, they are getting some rain in the Willamette Valley,” he said. “We’ll have to wait a couple of days to see what that does.”

Fall fruit difficult to predict

Paul said Homegrown should have good supplies through August before tapering off in early September. But he also noted that it is difficult to predict how the growers in areas with late fruit will fare in September.

The crop varies from grower to grower, causing September volume predictions to be no more accurate than September weather forecasting. “We’ve seen Oregon’s organic blueberry crop last well into September,” he said. “There are a lot of ifs that we have to wait to see how they play out.”

However, he did note that overall supply is more predictable as both Peru and Mexico will join the organic blueberry parade in September. “We are working on our (fall) program right now putting together the right deals for our customers.”

Paul said there are many different blueberry varieties and the company is very selective as far as working with growers that have the product quality that meets their specifications.

He did marvel at the rise of the popularity of blueberries over the last several years noting that it has risen from the ranks of a specialty fruit to a commodity with sources of production throughout the world.