Tag: blueberries

Seeing how 2021 is being billed as the year of the fruits and vegetables, it is only fitting that we start the year off with a squabble of sorts.

With billions of dollars at stake, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas commends Senators Sinema (D-AZ) and Moran (R-KS) and Representatives Schweikert (R-AZ) and Cuellar (D-TX) for leading a bipartisan, bicameral letter raising significant concerns with the Trump Administration’s Section 201 investigation on imported blueberries and Section 332 investigations of imported strawberries, bell peppers, squash, and cucumbers.

WASHINGTON, January 12, 2021 – Members of the American Blueberry Growers Alliance (ABGA), a group representing U.S. domestic blueberry farmers, today provided information to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) during a hearing on the impact of rising imports during the U.S. growing and harvest seasons.

When one thinks of advantages foreign producers have over domestic ones, labor costs are the first thing that come to mind, but they are not the only factor.

As blueberry popularity has exploded in the U.S., a group of U.S. growers say imports are threatening their profitability.

Ahead of the incoming Biden Administration’s first major trade dispute, American and international blueberry berry growers, importers, distributors, purchasers, and suppliers have aligned to form The Blueberry Coalition for Progress & Health.

In December 2020, U.S. growers responded to rising blueberry imports by forming the American Blueberry Growers Alliance. The Produce Reporter interviewed Jerome Crosby, Georgia blueberry farmer and chairman of the Alliance’s executive committee.

What’s the outlook on farm labor? In a recent interview, Philip L. Martin, a professor at the University of California at Davis and one of the nation’s leading experts, made three major points.

Blueberry growers across America today established a new coalition, the American Blueberry Growers Alliance, to seek relief from rising imports that are harming their businesses.

California Giant Berry Farms growers are reporting peak volumes of a promotable organic and conventional blueberry supply for the start of the new year.