Topics in this issue of Behind the Blue:
- National Blueberry Pancake Day Promotions Roundup
- U-Pick Stakeholders: Update Your Impexium Profile
- USDA Announces $72.9 Million in Grant Funding Available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
National Blueberry Pancake Day kicked off our 2022 consumer promotions with a big boost of blue! On Friday, USHBC’s snack influencer partner, Justine Dorian (@justine_snacks), showcased a special blueberry pancake on TikTok and Instagram. To date, the blueberry pancake recipe reel has garnered 156,152 plays and 213 comments on the Instagram post, and 288,600 views and 33,500 likes on the TikTok post.
Several others across the blueberry industry joined in the National Blueberry Pancake Day promotions and tagged USHBC in their social media posts. Wish Farms showcased a delicious stack of blueberry pancakes alongside the Grab a Boost of Blue logo to celebrate with its followers. Frank Donio, Inc. wished their LinkedIn followers a happy blueberry pancake holiday with an extra boost of blue. And Fall Creek’s team made fresh blueberry pancakes, tagged USHBC and shared it on social media.
Want to promote blueberry pancakes all year? USHBC has a Blueberry Pancake graphic you can use year-round in consumer promotions on social media. And, no matter what you’re promoting, follow the example of these other industry champions: encourage consumers to Grab a Boost of Blue in your copy, use USHBC’s ready-made marketing materials or include the logo in your original content. Always tag @bluebrries so we can cross-promote!
National Blueberry Pancake Day is just one of the many moments on our promotional calendar inspiring consumers to Grab a Boost of Blue. To take a look at what else is coming up, visit our Grab of Boost of Blue Industry Resources page.
With the start of the domestic peak season around the corner, USHBC wants to support and promote U-pick operations. If you’re a U-pick operator, please create or update your Impexium profile so you can be featured on a forthcoming searchable list of U-pick farms on the consumer website.
Take a few minutes to sign up for a free account on Impexium, USHBC’s new digital management software. We’ll be incorporating as many U-pick operations as possible to encourage consumers to grab a boost of blue directly at their local blueberry farms this spring and summer.
On Tuesday, January 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $72.9 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to fund projects focused on the expanding specialty crop sector, including blueberries, and explore new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products.
What does this mean for the blueberry industry? These SCBG program funds are allocated to states using a formula that considers acreage and production value. You can submit an application electronically through grants.gov by May 3, 2022. USDA specifically encourages applications from or that will assist small farms, beginning farmers, underserved communities, and socially disadvantaged and veteran producers.
Previous SCBGP funds were awarded to organizations and universities on topics ranging from microbial safety of blueberry harvesting to evaluating the suitability of highbush blueberry varieties in Southwest Missouri.