BluesUpdate July 2024

Share

Facebook X Twitter LinkedIn

In this issue:

From the Chair: Going Big for National Blueberry Month! 

By Pat Goin

NABC Chair

NABC pulled out all the stops to celebrate and highlight National Blueberry Month this month, including attention-getting promotions, events in Washington, D.C., and an NABC membership drive. 

All of these efforts helped to raise awareness and support the success of the blueberry industry – and it worked! 

Our efforts included: 

  • Providing members with a “July is National Blueberry Month” flag as a thank you for their support.
  • Hosting the Great American Blueberry Challenge, which kicked off at the start of the month to inspire blueberry lovers nationwide to share creative ways to grab a boost of blue. The event culminated with the first-ever blueberry eating championship on July 13. USHBC, in partnership with Major League Eating, invited professional competitive eaters from across the country to gather in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to eat as many blueberries as possible in eight minutes. The winner ate a record 18.475 pounds. 
  • Hosting an ice cream social on Capitol Hill for over 500 staffers.

I’m proud of the many ways we put blueberries in the spotlight this month. Cheers to another year of inspiring blueberry possibilities! 

Board Profile: Tom Avinelis, Treasurer of NABC, Grower Chair

1. What was your first job in blueberries?

My first job in blueberries was actually the opportunity to be one of the first growers to plant blueberries in California. We were the beginners, learning from our mistakes and building the foundation for an industry in low chill hot climates. A lot has changed in 26 years.

2. What makes you passionate about the industry?  

Blueberries are the favorite fruit for both my wife and myself.  Nothing is healthier, more flavorful and convenient to put into your diet everyday. We also love the industry made up of passionate growers and families that focus on family values and delight in producing food that feeds the world.

3. What do you love about your job? 

My favorite part of my job is working with team members who are passionate about blueberries and the benefits of growing healthy fruit in a way that leaves the land better for future generations.

4. What’s one of your goals for being on the board? 

One of my goals for being on the board is to promote relationships in the blueberry industry, while supporting programs that will help grow consumptions of blueberries.

5. If you weren’t in the blueberry business, what would you be doing? 

If I was not in the blueberry business, I would still be farming and stewarding the land. I would also be spending more time in ministry work with my wife.

Member Benefit: Get Weekly Crop Reports on the NABC Website! 

NABC members have access to weekly audio versions of our crop report podcasts, hosted by our very own Joe Vargas, director of business intelligence. 

Thank you to our dedicated growers and colleagues who generously contribute their time and insights to these reports!  

START LISTENING NOW!

After you get up to speed on the latest crop information, be sure to access our interactive industry data dashboard with market data broken down by week, available from the same webpage.

Explore the Chilean Growing Region This Winter

Destination Chile, Dec.9-13, is your chance to explore Chilean blueberry growing regions and learn how Chile is responding to increasing supply from competing regions. 

With over 18,000 hectares of highbush blueberries planted and an ongoing commitment to finding new and better varieties, Destination Chile will connect you to fellow blueberry experts with boots on the ground in Chile. 

The trip is limited to 40 attendees and the registration fee is $1,950, which covers all travel-related expenses once you arrive in Chile, including: 

  • Hotel reservations (checking in Dec. 9 and checking out Dec. 13).  
  • Group ground transportation.
  • All organized meals Dec. 9-13. 
  • All group activities and tours.

Check out the full itinerary, then register to join us

READ MORE HERE!

Chile Approves Expanded Access for Fresh Blueberries from U.S. States

On July 25, Chile’s Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) officially expanded market access for U.S. fresh blueberries from all states (except Hawaii) with methyl bromide (MB) fumigation as a mitigation option for Eastern states (by publishing SAG resolution 5009-2003). California, Oregon and Washington may continue to ship fresh blueberries to Chile under the existing systems approach.  

The Phytosanitary Export Database (PExD) will be updated with the new phytosanitary import requirements for Chile by early August. We encourage you to check PExD and the USHBC Exporter page prior to initiating shipments from the Eastern U.S. with MB fumigation. 

This is a major step forward in our ongoing efforts to support U.S. blueberry exports and strengthen international trade relationships.

Celebrating National Blueberry Month in D.C.! 

NABC brought the National Blueberry Month celebration to Capitol Hill with a Blueberry Ice Cream Social in the House Ag Committee room. NABC teamed up with the National Milk Producers Federation to host the event, which drew a crowd of over 500 Hill staffers. 

Guests enjoyed a bowl of Friendly’s ice cream topped with their choice of fresh, frozen or dried blueberries from the different production regions. The event was an excellent opportunity to showcase all forms of blueberries and the geographical diversity of the industry.  

The following morning, NABC partnered with Mondelez International to give out blueberry Clif bars and BelVita biscuits at the busy Cap South Metro Stop to congressional members and staff commuting to the Hill. 

We were thrilled to work with partners like the National Milk Producers Federation and Mondelez to bring the National Blueberry Month celebration to D.C. These events are an important part of NABC’s strategic plan 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.  

Thank you to the following NABC members who donated blueberries to the event. We appreciate your support!

California Giant Berry Farms, Chelsea Consalo, Consalo Family Farms, Bryan Sakuma, Sakuma Brothers, Dragonberry Produce Inc., Firestone Pacific Foods, Homegrown Organic Farms, Meduri Farms, Inc., Oasis Farms, Scenic Fruit Company, Tom Bodtke, Naturipe Farms,  Bradon Rasso and  Variety Farms Inc.! 

NABC Director of Government Affairs Addresses Congressional Ag Trade Caucus

NABC Director of Government Affairs Alyssa Houtby recently participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus about the opportunities and challenges affecting U.S. Ag exports. 

The panel was moderated by Former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agriculture Affairs Sharon Bomer and included representatives from the National Milk Producers Federation, American Soybean Association and the National Grain and Feed Association.  

Houtby reviewed the dynamics affecting global blueberry trade and steps Congress can take to help increase U.S. exports and ensure growers remain competitive in the domestic market.  

“To increase exports, we need the U.S. to work on free trade agreements and be more aggressive in addressing tariff and nontariff export barriers. But, first and foremost, we need strong domestic farm policy that supports U.S. farmers,” said Houtby. “That starts with passing a Farm Bill.”

Houtby further explained that nearly every title of the Farm Bill supports ag export growth. “While the Trade Titles and programs such as MAP and TASC directly support ag exports, other titles like Research, Horticulture and Crop Insurance indirectly support trade by laying the foundation for a healthy and robust U.S. farm sector.”

Houtby concluded, “NABC looks forward to working with the Ag Trade Caucus to ensure that the U.S. continues to be a major supplier of blueberries here at home and around the world.”

The Congressional Ag Trade Caucus was formalized in February 2024 to solidify support for trade policies that benefit farmers, ranchers, producers, rural communities and all those along the food and agricultural supply chains. Chaired by Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jim Costa (D-CA) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), the caucus creates opportunities for members of Congress to promote policies that boost international competitiveness, increase market access, address nontariff barriers to trade, improve supply chains and reestablish U.S. global leadership on trade.

Crop Insurance: Blueberries Approved for Enhanced Coverage Option

The U.S. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that blueberries will be eligible for the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) insurance program beginning in the 2025 crop year. Additionally, RMA is increasing premium support for all crops covered by ECO from 44% to 65% to make the policy more effective and affordable for producers.  

ECO provides additional area-based coverage for a portion of a producer’s underlying crop insurance policy deductible. ECO can be purchased as an endorsement to Yield Protection, Revenue Protection, Revenue Protection with the Harvest Price Exclusion or Actual Production History. ECO offers producers a choice of 90% or 95% trigger levels. Trigger is the percentage of expected yield or revenue at which a loss becomes payable.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered through private crop insurance agents. Contact your crop insurance agent to learn more about ECO and if it’s right for your operation. 

OSHA Releases ‘Unofficial’ Proposed Heat Illness and Prevention Rule

On July 2, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an unofficial version of its proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Rule. The official rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register soon, at which point the 120-day public comment period will begin.

The proposed rule includes nearly all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all

general industry — including  agriculture sectors — where OSHA has jurisdiction. Notable exceptions are:

  • Workers exposed to the high temperatures for 15 minutes or less in a given 60-minute

period.

  • Jobs for which the outlined protections are infeasible (emergency response, firefighting,

search and rescue).

Under the proposed rule, all affected employers would need to develop a work site heat injury

and illness prevention plan (HIIPP) which includes:

  • Designating a heat safety coordinator.
  • Consistently monitoring heat conditions through a traditional heat index or a wet bulb globe temperature.
  • Developing a heat emergency response plan.
  • Providing training to all employees regarding heat-related injuries and contributing risk factors.

The measures that would be required under the proposed rule are triggered by heat exposure. When ambient temperatures are 80 degrees fahrenheit or higher, employers are required to:

  • Provide accessible drinking water and break areas for workers.
  • Acclimatize new workers to heat through gradual workload increases.

At temperatures of 90 degrees fahrenheit or higher, employers would be required to:

  • Periodically check on isolated workers.
  • Monitor all workers for signs of heat illness.
  • Implement mandatory 15-minute rest breaks for all employees every two hours.
  • Issue hazard alerts emphasizing the importance of hydration and employees’ rights to additional rest breaks.

The text of the rule is available here. OSHA has also provided additional materials on its website here.

NABC will share updates and pertinent information as the rule moves forward. 

DOL to Host H-2A Farmworker Protection Rule Webinar on Aug. 7

The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification will host a webinar on Aug. 7 at 12 p.m PT/3 p.m. ET to inform program users and stakeholders about the 2024 H-2A “Farmworker Protection” Final Rule.

Registration is not required. However, there is a 1,000 attendee cap on the webinar. A copy of the presentation will be publicly available at a later date.

Join from the meeting link (download Webex or click “Join from browser”). Meeting number (access code): 2828 285 0217. Meeting password: OFLC2024.

Or join by phone: (877) 465-7975.

From D.C. to the Farm

NABC recently teamed up with Fall Creek to host Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04) at the Fall Creek Field & Forum in Lowell, Oregon, where she was able to connect with blueberry growers from her district and beyond. Rep. Hoyle is a member of the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources. Prior to her time in public office, Rep. Hoyle spent 25 years working in retail management, manufacturing and international trade for the bicycle industry. Now serving Oregon’s 4th District, which encompasses significant blueberry production, Rep. Hoyle is using her international expertise to support U.S. blueberry trade issues, including Japan’s tariff on frozen blueberries. While visiting Fall Creek, Rep. Hoyle spoke with growers about the growth and evolution of the global blueberry industry, and how the Farm Bill can support U.S. growers. 

Meanwhile, across the country, NABC members Brandon Raso (Variety Farms) and Bonnie Lundblad (Sun Valley International) hosted staff from Sen. Cory Booker’s office for a tour of New Jersey blueberries. They talked about labor challenges and promising developments in mechanical harvesting technology, and the decisions that go into replanting and investing in new varieties. They also shared the rich history of blueberries in New Jersey, including the first plantings of the blueberries propagated by Elizabeth White, the first person to cultivate the wild blueberry.  

Willing to Host Your Member of Congress for a Tour, But Unsure Where to Start? 

NABC can support you! Reach out to NABC Director of Government Affairs Alyssa Houtby at [email protected] or (559)737-8899 for information.  

Congress is adjourned through August and members are back in their districts, making now a great time to connect with your representative about the importance of passing a Farm Bill before the end of the year. 

5 Reasons to Register Now for The Blueberry Summit  

The Blueberry Summit, Sept. 25-27 in Denver, is the must-attend event of the season for the blueberry industry. 

Not yet registered? Here are five reasons you’ve got to sign up today: 

  1. Save with early-bird pricing! Sign up by Aug. 27 for our very best pricing, plus book your hotel within our discounted room block (also by Aug. 27).
  2. Be there to honor industry luminaries. See who earns a prestigious NABC Award at our dinner and awards reception. 
  3. Learn alongside thought leaders. Our education sessions keep you up to date on the most critical blueberry industry topics – and they’re led by inspiring and informative thought leaders. 
  4. Discover the latest solutions on Blueberry Lane. Our active exhibit floor is your blueberry-related street of dreams. Stroll the lane to explore blueberry industry solutions and innovations, and meet with the people behind the products.
  5. Connect with colleagues at social events. From our welcome event to a Colorado Rockies game, there are lots of ways to network at The Blueberry Summit. Add the Sept. 27 Rockies vs. Dodgers game when you register to get a game ticket, food voucher and exclusive Grab a Boost of Blue baseball swag. 

Save your seat today for best pricing! 

REGISTER NOW!

NABC Membership Campaign Underway

Throughout July, we’ve been focused on increasing NABC membership. Our outreach about the many features and benefits of being an NABC member has been well-received! Check out these new members: 

  • Patricio Munoz, University of Florida 
  • Sendik’s Market 
  • Oscar Liburd,  University of Florida
  • Doug Phillips, University of Florida
  • Gerardo Nunez,University of Florida
  • Forest Lavoie Conseil
  • Ellips

We’ll Shine a Light on Your Events!  

If you’re hosting a blueberry industry event, we can help you spread the word! Email Kristy Babb at [email protected] with all the details and we’ll include your event in our next newsletter.