ABOUT USHBC

The blueberry industry created USHBC 25 years ago to grow the entire category. We exist to give more consumers in the U.S more reasons to buy more blueberries, to expand demand for U.S. blueberries in global markets and to equip the industry for success.

Our Mission

USHBC invests industry funds to build demand.

Our Vision

Blueberries are the world’s favorite fruit.

Our Purpose

We exist to strengthen the blueberry industry’s profitable position in the marketplace.

2026-2028 Strategic Plan

Blueberries have been elevated from the rest of the berry patch as a worldwide symbol of wellness. As an industry, we’re keeping the momentum going! Our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan spells out our lines of effort to build global demand for blueberries.

View a one-page version of the strategic plan below:

View One-Pager
COUNCIL MEMBERS
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We invite you to get more involved with the USHBC. We need your voice and your expertise to help further the work of the organization and the entire blueberry industry – and the opportunities abound. The board is composed of state and regional representatives who serve as localized resources for the growers, marketers and importers in their assigned area. They manage coordinated state/regional efforts such as hosting meetings and data collection and reporting.

USHBC elections for Public Members, Importer and Exporter members and alternates are divided and held in two separate years. The election of Regional Members, Importer #1, Exporter #1 (Chile), Exporter #3 (Peru), Exporter #4 (Mexico) and Public Member take place in one year, and the election of State Representatives, Exporter #2 (Canada), Importers #2, #3 and #4 take place the following year.

Candidates nominated during a USHBC election year can download an industry member or public member background information form here.

GET INVOLVED

States

California

Member – Doug LaCroix
Second Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Randy Grimm
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Florida

Member – Brittany Lee
Second Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Michael Hill
Second Term Ends – 12/31/28

Georgia

Member – Tammy Brannen
Second Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Brandon Wade
Second Term Ends 12/31/25

Michigan

Member – Dennis Vander Kooi
Second Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – George Fritz, Jr.
Second Term Ends 12/31/28

New Jersey

Member – Matt Macrie
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Open
First Term Ends 12/31/28

North Carolina

Member – Kristen Johnson-Brinkley
Second Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Neil Moore
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Oregon

Member – Ellie Norris
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Anna Jesse
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Washington

Member – Michele Cherchi
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Bryan Sakuma
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Regions

Western

Member – Nathan Sakuma
Second Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Anne Steinkamp
Second Term Ends 12/31/27

Midwest

Member – Katelyn Craig
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Kara Laraway-Hartmann
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Northeast

Member – Brandon Raso
Firsst Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Alec Arena
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Southeast

Member – Jody McPherson
Second Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Dan Register
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Importers, Exporters and Public Members

Importer #1

Member – Gonzalo de Elizalde
First Term Ends – 12/31/27

Alternate – Bonnie Lundblad
First Term Ends – 12/31/27

Importer #2

Member – Guy Cotton
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Ian Grigg
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Importer #3

Member – Ryan Lockman
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Harold Mongrut
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Importer #4

Member – Joe Barsi
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Bo Slack
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Exporter #1 (Chile)

Member – Juan Pablo Vogt
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Ruy Barbosa
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Exporter #2 (Canada)

Member – Sunny Brar
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Alternate – Humraj Kallu
First Term Ends 12/31/28

Exporter #3 (Peru)

Member – Daniel Bustamante
Second Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Jose Antonio Castro
Second Term Ends 12/31/27

Exporter #4 (Mexico)

Member – Miguel Mendez
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Raul Gonzales Chavez
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Public Member

Member – Bill Cline
First Term Ends 12/31/27

Alternate – Patricio R. Munoz
Second Term Ends 12/31/27

OUR PEOPLE
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As board-appointed leadership and USHBC staff, it’s our pleasure to support you. We’re fully engaged and passionate about our roles and responsibilities to serve and advance the blueberry industry. In all we do, we strive to cultivate a culture and infrastructure that supports and enables industry and individual success in the spirit of continuous improvement.

USHBC Officers

Ellie Norris

Chair

Brittany Lee

Vice Chair

Brandon Raso

Treasurer

VACANT

Secretary

USHBC Staff

Kasey Cronquist

President

Amanda Griffin

Vice President of Engagement and Education

Kevin Hamilton

Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications

Leslie Wada

Senior Director of Nutrition and Health Research

Alyssa Houtby

Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy

Haiying Zhang

Director of Global Business Development

Stacy Plarr

Director of Meetings and Events

Andrea Walters

Director of Organizational Development, People and Culture

Jared Ruggles

Director of Finance

Mandy Boarman

Industry and Community Engagement Manager

Inez Be

Director of Marketing

Shaun Rundle

Director of Operations

Gabriella Gebhardt

Communications and
Digital Content
Coordinator

Crystal Wills

Compliance
Coordinator

Holly Leslie

Finance and
Administrative
Specialist

Lisa Buckmaster

Administrative
Assistant

Committees
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The USHBC is fueled by the dedication and passion of our industry. Our committees are the engine that drives us forward.

See all our committees and members, and filter to find a specific role.

Filter by committees

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee oversees all business and operations of the USHBC, supporting all efforts to grow the value of and sell more blueberries in the U.S. and around the world.

Ellie Norris

Chair

Brittany Lee

Vice Chair

Brandon Raso

Treasurer

VACANT

Secretary

Daniel Bustamante

Member at Large

Bryan Sakuma

Past Chair

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee oversees the financial affairs of the council, including the recommendation and monitoring of the annual budget; assessment collection and compliance; investment of council funds; fiscal reporting; and the annual financial audit. The Treasurer serves as the chair of this committee. 

The committee is composed of the Treasurer, two council members and three at-large members appointed by the council chair.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Brandon Raso

Treasurer – Chair

George Fritz

term 12/31/2028

Michael Hill

term 12/31/2027

Micah Weiss

term 12/31/2026

Jody McPherson

term 12/31/2027

Tracy Umbenhour

term 12/31/2027

Industry Engagement Committee

The Industry Engagement Committee supports the council and Executive Committee in developing strategies to enhance engagement of industry professionals in USHBC meetings, events and programs, and in governance roles. The committee considers improvements in efficiency and effectiveness of USHBC governance and the leadership development system, including the recruitment, leadership succession planning and appointment process of Executive Committee members, importers and public member positions for the council.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

THE BUSINESS OF BLUEBERRIES PODCAST

BEHIND THE BLUE INDUSTRY NEWSLETTER

Bryan Sakuma

Chair
term 12/31/2026

Tom Bodtke

Vice Chair
term 12/31/2026

Mark Adams

term 12/31/2025

Shelly Hartmann

term 12/31/2027

Jody McPherson

term 12/31/2026

Andrew Maiman

term 12/31/2027

Juan Pablo Vogt

term 12/31/2028

Anna Jesse

term 12/31/2026

Denny Vander Kooi

term 12/31/2027

Luis Miguel Vegas

term 12/31/2028

Felipe Silva

term 12/31/2028

Promotion Committee

The Promotion Committee oversees and reviews all U.S. markets and global market development promotion and marketing plans, and fields market research studies to inform program development and evaluation.

The committee receives and considers program budget recommendations from the Health Research Advisory Board and the Global Business Development Advisory Board, and is responsible for ensuring that overall program budget recommendations align with strategic plan goals.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

THE BUSINESS OF BLUEBERRIES PODCAST

Nathan Sakuma

(Grower)

Chair

1st term 12/31/2026

Shelly Hartmann

(Grower)

Vice Chair
term 12/31/2027

Tom Avinelis

 (grower)

term 12/31/2028

Katelyn Craig 

(Grower)

term 12/31/2028

Chad Don

(Grower)

term 12/31/2026

Alec Arena

(Grower)

term 12/31/2027

Darren Sinn

(Fresh Marketer)

term 12/31/2027

Bonnie Lundblad

(Fresh Marketer)

term 12/31/2026

Kyla Oberman

(Fresh Marketer)

term 12/31/2028

Rose Palacios

(Fresh Marketer)

term 12/31/2028

Jeff Malensky

(Frozen Marketer)

2nd term 12/31/2026

Haley Noonan

(Frozen Marketer)

term 12/31/2028

Amy Nguyen

(Domestic Exporter)

2nd term 12/31/2026

Jim Roberts

(Domestic Exporter)

term 12/31/2027

Ray Biln

(Importer – CA)

2nd term 12/31/2026

Juan Jose Flores

(importer – MX)

term 12/31/2027

Felipe Silva

(importer – CL)

term 12/31/2027

Luis Miguel Vegas

(Importer – PE)

term 12/31/2028

HR Advisory
Board Liaison

OPEN

GBD Advisory
Board Liaison –
Terry Fasel

term 12/31/2027

Food Service Subcommittee (Promotion)

Kyla Oberman

Chair

term 12/31/2027

Ray Biln, Vice Chair

Vice Chair
2nd term 12/31/2026

Stephanie Kleiner

term 12/31/2028

Josh Scheel

term 12/31/2027

Bruce Turner

term 12/31/2027

Brian Bocock

2nd term 12/31/2028

Retail Subcommittee (Promotion)

Kyla Oberman

Chair

term 12/31/2027

Jim Roberts

Vice Chair
term 12/31/2028

Karen Brux

2nd term 12/31/2026

Jody McPherson

term 12/31/2026

Todd Eagan

term 12/31/2028

Bonnie Lundblad

2nd term 12/31/2026

Food Manufacturing Subcommittee (Promotion)

Jeff Malensky

Chair
term 12/31/2026

Felipe Silva

Vice Chair
term 12/31/2026

Chad Don

term 12/31/2027

Josh Scheel

term 12/31/2028

John Shelford

2nd term 12/31/2026

Haley Noonan

term 12/31/2028

Health Research Advisory Board

The Health Research Advisory Board defines recommends and manages priority research projects that demonstrate the health benefits of blueberries. The work of the Advisory Board supports success in strategies for market development.

HEALTH RESEARCH AND NUTRITION STUDIES

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS RESOURCES

Tammy Brannen

Chair

term 12/31/2026

Lindsay Bodtke

Vice Chair
term 12/31/2028

Amy Howell

2nd term 12/31/2026

Mark Sweeney

term 12/31/2027

Cheyenne Sloan

1st term 12/31/2026

Micah Weiss

term 12/31/2027

Global Business Development Advisory Board

The Global Business Development Advisory Board identifies, reviews, and recommends proposals and programs (including those funded by USDA FAS Trade Programs) that have the greatest potential to increase U.S. highbush blueberry export volume. The work of the Advisory Board supports success in USHBC strategies for export market development for U.S. production and to inspire global market development that helps achieve the USHBC’s vision to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit.

EXPORTER RESOURCES

REGISTER FOR THE EXPORT DATABASE

Terry Fasel

Chair

term 12/31/2026

Cort Brazelton

Vice Chair
2nd term 12/31/2026

Mario Flores

term 12/31/2027

Andres Armstrong

term 12/31/2025

Bo Slack

term 12/31/2026

Cristian Vivanco

term 12/31/2027

BerrySmart Insights Fresh Task Force 

The BerrySmart Insights Fresh Task Force provides strategic guidance to the USHBC for improving BerrySmart Insights Fresh. The task force helps ensure the platform delivers accurate, actionable insights that support improved decision-making and drive value for stakeholders across the blueberry industry.

Sarah Quackenbush

Chair
term 12/31/2026

Darren Sinn

term 12/31/2026

Markus Duran

term 12/31/2026

Travis Kuhn

term 12/31/2026

David Miller

term 12/31/2026

Doug LaCroix

term 12/31/2026

Ernesto Diaz

term 12/31/2026

Andrew Maiman

term 12/31/2026

Stephanie Kleiner

term 12/31/2026

Luis Miguel Vegas

term 12/31/2026

Andres Armstrong

term 12/31/2026

BerrySmart Food Safety Task Force

The BerrySmart Food Safety Task Force would be convened each year or as needed to address particular food safety trends, emerging issues or project/initiative work, and would work with staff to provide any information, recommendations or reports to the Council for consideration and/or action.

BERRYSMART FOOD SAFETY

Lisa Winther

term 12/31/2026

Maria Fernanda Abildgaard

term 12/31/2027

Mikala Hughes

term 12/31/2027

Zach Semerikov

term 12/31/2028

Joseph Jessup

 term 12/31/2028

VACANT

BerrySmart Technology Task Force

The BerrySmart Technology Task Force would be convened each year or as needed to address particular technology and innovation trends, emerging issues or project/initiative work, and would work with staff to provide any information, recommendations or reports to the Council for consideration and/or action.

THE BUSINESS OF BLUEBERRIES PODCAST

Noel Sakuma

Chair
term 12/31/2028

Gabe Bocock

1st term 12/31/2026

Anna Jesse

term 12/31/2028

Cheyenne Sloan

term 12/31/2027

Mike Mainland

2nd term 12/31/2026

Anne Steinkamp

term 12/31/2027

BerrySmart Sustainability Task Force

The Berry Smart Sustainability would be convened each year or as needed to address particular sustainability trends, emerging issues or project/initiative work, and would work with staff to provide any information, recommendations or reports to the Council for consideration and/or action.

Pat Goin

Chair
term 12/31/2028

Christy Butler

2nd term 12/31/2026

Cecilia Allende

term 12/31/2027

Brian Knight

term 12/31/2026

Rajendra Gangavarapu

term 12/31/2028

Emily Fritz

term 12/31/2027

ELECTIONS, ELIGIBILITY
AND FORMS
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Executive officers of the USHBC are elected and serve terms of one year. Candidates must be qualified council members and are eligible to be elected for multiple terms. Elections are held at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Candidates who are nominated during a USHBC election year can learn more and download nomination forms here.

NOMINATION MEMO TO GROWERS

REGIONAL MEMBER FORM

IMPORTER, EXPORTER, PUBLIC MEMBER FORM

BYLAWS

View USHBC’s Bylaws and the Title 7 Blueberry Order which establishes the council.

VIEW BYLAWS

VIEW TITLE 7 BLUEBERRY ORDER