ProduceIQ: Scary high blueberry prices frighten buyers

And you thought your teenager was a bad procrastinator. Over the weekend, Congress passed a bill to extend government spending with mere hours to spare.

The bill will allow the government to operate for 45 more days. Just long enough for members of Congress to take Brene Brown’s newest Masterclass on the human emotions of courage and empathy.

Residents in the tri-state area are still wringing out their fall coats after a very wet weekend, as 2-8 inches of rain fell in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Fortunately for already elevated fresh produce prices, there aren’t many crops in the affected area. Although, the abnormally wet weather may have caused some minor logistics delays.

Blueberries are El Nino’s most haunting victim yet. A relatively new commodity for Peruvian growers that some believed was too big of a risk to try in the first place. However, in a short time, Peruvian growers have proven that they can be a leader in the world market. But this fall, those fears of too few cold hours are returning to plague growers.

Prices are up another +26 percent over the previous week and are forecasted to climb even higher. Import volumes are about half of last year’s in week #39. Supply is forecasted to improve in late October/November.