Late summer sees lower supplies of both blueberries and blackberries
From
| 4 September 2023
Overview of blackberries and blueberries supplies in the U.S. market, complemented by charts from Agronometrics. Original published on September 1, 2023.
Supply is tight right now on both blueberries and blackberries. On blueberries, the industry supply as of last week is significantly below this time last year. “The volume has dropped out of the Pacific Northwest and Michigan and the volume out of Peru is very light,” says Alan Ediger, VP of Sales for California Giant Berry Farms.
Meanwhile, organic blueberry supply is winding down in Oregon with organic volumes coming from Peru following the end of the Oregon season, around week 36. “Oregon blueberry regions have been warm with spotting rain showers the last couple of days which is increasing quality issues on our last picks. The harvest season will end in the next couple weeks for Oregon,” says Ediger. Organic volumes from Chile aren’t anticipated until near the end of 2023.
Watsonville blackberry peak
On blackberries though, supply is only slightly below this time last year. “Blackberry volumes from Mexico are currently light–however will increase by the end of September,” says Ediger, adding that volumes will increase from both central Mexico and California. “We’re currently coming off of peak volumes of blackberries from Watsonville.” As far as growing conditions, the California blackberry growing areas have been warm and humid increasing minor quality issues.
Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
Organic blackberries are currently peaking in Watsonville with the Mexico crop increasing in volume until we reach strong production in early October through the end of the year.
Meanwhile, demand is good right now on both blueberries and blackberries. “Prices on blueberries have consistently risen over the past couple of weeks as volume has dropped. Prices on blackberries are about where we would expect them to be this time of year,” says Ediger.
The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.
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