PLANT CITY, FL - It’s National Blueberry Month, and there’s still time to celebrate! As the month of July draws consumers into the berry section in search of something sweet and blue, I found it only right to tap in with Wish Farms’ Director of Blueberry Operations Brian Deese to discover some of the details of the blueberry market and a few tips for ending National Blueberry Month on a high note.
“Quality on our blueberries has been looking really good,” Brian tells me, providing a few exclusive insights into the grower’s blueberry harvest. “Volume for the industry has been down a bit, as New Jersey had a 50 percent crop this year and the Midwest regions are running a few weeks behind.”
Wish Farms’ growers are currently producing flavorful blueberries in Oregon, Michigan, New Jersey, and British Columbia. With a regionally diverse grower network, the supplier is able to continue to meet the needs of its retail partners even amidst tight supplies.
“Lighter supplies have led to strong pricing in the category, and the market is expected to stabilize as we begin to see promotable volumes in the first couple of weeks of August,” shares Brian.
In the meantime, Wish Farms will be making the most of National Blueberry Month by promoting the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council’s Grab a Boost of Blue campaign. As part of the campaign, the council has launched Grab a Boost, Give a Boost, which donates $1 to No Kids Hungry for every mention of @blueberries on social media.
“We encourage retailers to promote National Blueberry Month and Grab a Boost of Blue,” Brian says. “Wish Farms is promoting the program through our social media and blog posts, and we’re talking a lot about blueberry health, usage, and recipes across our social platforms, in addition to partnering with a few different ambassadors to push the message beyond Wish Farms’ followers.”
When it comes to driving blueberry sales, Brian offers up a few more tips for retailers.
“Any time a retailer can point out the grower behind the product and where that crop is grown, whether it be through photos or farm bios, it really helps connect the consumer with the farm," Brian notes. "For any retailer who carries Wish Farms, that’s something we offer in different point-of-sale materials and customized designs.”
With the provider’s 100-year anniversary on the horizon, I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Wish Farms soon.
Stay tuned to ANUK as we bring you updates on this berry grower and more.
