Topics in this issue of Blues Update:
- From the Chair: Ramping Up for National Blueberry Month
- NABC Joins Technical Trade Mission to Japan, South Korea
- New Department of Labor Opinion Letter Program Provides Compliance Assistance
- Registration Is Open for the Annual Agriculture Labor Relations Forum in Florida
- NABC Statement Issues Statement on Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Budget Reconciliation Text
- Send In Your Nominations for New USHBC Award, NABC Awards
- Upcoming Blueberry Convention Includes 5-Stop Farm Tour
From the Chair: Ramping Up for National Blueberry Month
By Teddy Koukoulis
NABC Chair
July is my favorite month of the year – mostly because it’s National Blueberry Month! The NABC laid the groundwork to officially recognize July as National Blueberry Month through decades of work with the USDA. The first proclamation was issued by USDA in 1974, and in recent years, NABC has hosted unique events in our nation’s capital every July to commemorate National Blueberry Month and the incredible growth, value and impact our industry has on the economy and our communities.
This year, the NABC team will once again partner with the National Milk Producers Federation to host the wildly popular Blueberry Ice Cream Social, featuring blueberry toppings in all formats. We’re also partnering with the Mondelez company to spread the love of blueberries on Capitol Hill. The NABC team – including our fun-loving blueberry mascot – will be traipsing the hill, passing out blueberry bars from Clif Bar and blueberry biscuits from belVita Breakfast.
The events and strategic partnerships that are part of National Blueberry Month are an important part of our effort to grow the profile of the blueberry industry in D.C., and position the organization to be an influential voice on the federal policies our members care about.
Coordinating these engagements takes a lot of hard work, but seeing policymakers engage with the fruits of our industry and having the chance to further boost goodwill in our nation’s capital make these efforts worthwhile.
Stay tuned for a full rundown (and photos) on a host of National Blueberry Month successes that I can’t wait to share!
NABC Joins Technical Trade Mission to Japan, South Korea
NABC Director of Government Affairs Alyssa Houtby recently participated in a technical trade mission to Japan and South Korea that was sponsored by the USDA’s Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) program. The purpose of the mission was to better understand the process for establishing Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in the two countries, discuss the regulatory challenges associated with MRL standards, explore opportunities for enhancing compliance and learn about enforcement of MRL regulations.
Other attendees included representatives from the California Citrus Quality Council, Almond Board of California, Northwest Horticultural Council and the Washington Red Raspberry Commission. The trip was organized by Bryant Christie Inc. on behalf of USDA.
The technical visit began in Japan and included meetings with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and representatives of Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency and Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The group also met with Bayer Japan to discuss the Japanese pesticide registration process, and the importer group Wismettac Foods to learn their perspective on Japan’s import inspection process.
Similar meetings were held with USDA-FAS in Seoul with South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Corteva Korea and Jinwon Trading.
“The trip was an eye-opening and invaluable experience. Reading about regulatory processes is one thing, but sitting across the table from country officials and hearing directly from them brought a whole new level of understanding,” Houtby said. “It was a powerful reminder of how essential cultural context is to effective collaboration. We came away with actionable insights that will directly support the ASCE program’s goal of establishing new MRLs.”
New Department of Labor Opinion Letter Program Provides Compliance Assistance
The Department of Labor relaunched and significantly expanded its opinion letter program, offering employers a direct line to five enforcement agencies, including Wage and Hour Division and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, for compliance assistance and legal interpretation of federal labor laws.
Opinion letters are formal written guidance from DOL officials that explain how the agency would apply the law in specific situations. The letters, while not binding, are a helpful compliance tool, offer transparency and consistency of enforcement and can sometimes serve as a good-faith legal defense.
USDA has launched a new webpage to allow employers to submit a request for agency interpretation. A request must:
- Be specific and include real-world facts.
- Address a novel or unclear issue.
- Fall under the jurisdiction of one of the five participating agencies.
Learn more here.
Registration Is Open for the Annual Agriculture Labor Relations Forum in Florida
Registration is open for the 51st annual Agricultural Labor Relations Forum being held Aug. 27-29 at the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek.
Presented by the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, this year’s forum will feature experts and workshops on a variety of topics including, navigating wage-and-hour audits, immigration, recent legal developments, farmworker housing, H-2A fundamentals, ag transportation, and navigating ICE and CBP visits.
View the schedule, then register to attend. The early-bird rate is available through July 31.
NABC is proud to support the Agriculture Labor Relations Forum!
NABC Statement Issues Statement on Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Budget Reconciliation Text
Last week, NABC President Kasey Cronquist issued the following statement reacting to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Budget Committee’s release of reconciliation text:
“NABC thanks Chairman Boozman and the Senate Agriculture Committee for its unwavering commitment over the past two years to advance a new farm bill that provides meaningful support to U.S. specialty crops. While we continue to strongly support passage of a bipartisan comprehensive farm bill and look forward to working with both sides of the aisle to deliver that, we are encouraged by the committee’s release of budget reconciliation text that includes critical investments for blueberry producers.
“We are especially grateful for the proposed funding for key programs that directly support the blueberry industry and other specialty crops. These include the Tree Assistance Program, crop insurance, the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and trade promotion funding. These investments are essential to maintaining the long-term viability and global competitiveness of American-grown blueberries.
“However, budget reconciliation rules prevent this bill from addressing many of the policy updates needed for the specialty crop industry. A complete farm bill is necessary to enact needed policy reforms, without which American family farms will remain at a disadvantage compared to foreign competitors operating with significantly lower production costs.
“We remain committed to working closely with Chairman Boozman, Chairman Thompson and members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to ensure the specialty crop industry is fully supported across all legislative efforts.”
Send In Your Nominations for New NABC Awards, USHBC Awards
There’s still time to send in your nominations for the new USHBC Elizabeth White Award celebrating the extraordinary contributions of women in the blueberry industry and three NABC awards. The nomination period closes June 30!
We’ll be honoring thought leaders in the blueberry industry at The Blueberry Convention this fall, and we need your input on who should be recognized.
The Elizabeth White Award
Celebrates women who have impacted the blueberry industry through groundbreaking research, innovative business practices, advocacy or leadership.
Help us honor women in blueberries by sending in your nomination here.
The Blueberry Hall of Fame Award
Honors leaders, growers and suppliers who have made a lasting impact on the blueberry industry in North America.
The Duke Galletta Award
Recognizes excellence in blueberry horticultural research.
The Alex Wetherbee Award
Honors outstanding contributions in marketing and promotion. Use the nomination links here to send in your recommendations.
Upcoming Blueberry Convention Includes 5-Stop Farm Tour
One reason we’re holding The Blueberry Convention in Seattle this fall is the proximity to some of Washington state’s premier blueberry farms. Which is why we’re thrilled to announce the Blueberry Farm Tour: A Taste of Washington’s Finest – taking place Oct. 11.
During this day-long journey, you’ll explore some of the region’s most innovative and picturesque farms. This immersive tour is your opportunity to see where it all begins – from field to processing – all while connecting with fellow industry professionals.
We’ll begin our day at Golden Eagle Farm in Everett where you’ll get an up-close look at their growing practices and approach to quality and sustainability. From there, we’ll head north to Sakuma Brothers in Burlington, a farm rich in history and innovation. Enjoy a guided tour of their operations followed by a locally catered lunch featuring Pacific Northwest flavors.
Next, we’ll travel to Lynden where we’ll visit a Van Mersbergen Farm field, and then one of the region’s premier processors (coming soon!). Here, you’ll gain insights into post-harvest handling and technology in action.
Our final stop takes us to Everson where Samson Farms will host us for a tour of their expansive operations. We’ll close the day on a high note with a wine tasting and dinner at Samson Estates Winery, a beautiful venue surrounded by berry fields and mountain views.
Expect a day filled with behind-the-scenes access, valuable takeaways and the kind of camaraderie that only comes from shared passion and purpose.
To get in on all the action, just add the farm tour at checkout when you register for The Blueberry Convention. Already registered for the convention? Add the tour to your experience today. Plus, book your housing in our block at the Westin Seattle Hotel to save with our discounted group rate.
Need Help Promoting Your Event?
If you’re hosting a blueberry industry event, we’d love to help you promote it! Email Gabriella Gebhardt at [email protected] with the details and we’ll include it in an upcoming newsletter.