Blueberry Nutrition Research Roundtable, Washington Small Fruit Conference, Spotify Year in Review

Topics in this issue of Behind the Blue:

Blueberry Nutrition Research Roundtable Wraps Up in Washington, D.C.

Today in Washington, D.C., the first ever Blueberry Research Roundtable is wrapping up. This day-and-a-half-long meeting brought together leading nutrition science researchers, USHBC’s Health Research Committee, representatives from AMS, and USHBC staff to discuss the state of the science related to blueberries, as well as research opportunities to advance understanding of the role of blueberry consumption in USBHC’s five primary health research pillars: brain health, cardiovascular health, gut health, diabetes and healthy living. 

The outputs of this meeting are twofold: Developing a five-year blueberry research pipeline outlining key priority areas and opportunities to advance science on the role of blueberries in supporting public health and nutrition status, and publishing a consensus statement in a peer-reviewed journal on the health benefits of blueberry consumption and the nutrient contributions of blueberries to a healthy diet.

The expertise and insights shared regarding the latest science, technologies, consumer health trends and emerging public health issues will help enhance the evidence base for the health benefits of blueberries and the critical role blueberries play in a healthy diet. 

For questions about the Blueberry Research Roundtable, please reach out to USHBC’s Senior Director of Nutrition and Health Research Leslie Wada, Ph.D., at [email protected].

The annual Washington Small Fruit Conference and Ag Show was held last week at the NW Washington Fairgrounds Farm Pavilion and Expo Buildings in Lynden, Washington. This year, in-person and virtual attendees enjoyed engaging keynotes, informative sessions, a revamped trade show and more opportunities to learn about new products and equipment. 

USHBC President Kasey Cronquist spoke at the keynote session on Nov. 29, sharing the latest blueberry industry news and USHBC updates. Other sessions covered sustainable agriculture practices, disease and pest management and research updates. There was also a panel discussion on blueberry issues faced in 2022.

As noted at the event, blueberry production is expected to continue to grow in the northwest. USHBC is committed to continuing to share knowledge and empower the industry to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit.

‘The Business of Blueberries’ Spotify Year in Review

The recently released Spotify Wrapped 2022 reveals the loyalty of our “The Business of Blueberries” listeners and the most memorable listening moments from the past year. According to our recent listener survey, approximately 10% of our podcast listeners use Spotify as their platform of choice.

As the name implies, each week USHBC President Kasey Cronquist sits down with leaders throughout the blueberry industry to discuss markets, management, research and the future of blueberries. The podcast continued to build a loyal following in 2022. 

Here are the top highlights from this year’s Spotify Wrapped:

• “The Business of Blueberries” was in the top 10% of podcasts most shared globally. Blueberry fans spread the word through WhatsApp, direct links, texts and Instagram.
• 38% of listeners follow the podcast – ranking in the top 10% of most followed podcasts!
• “The Business of Blueberries” was heard in 31 countries (the top five were the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom).
• 89% of listeners discovered “The Business of Blueberries” in 2022.
• In 2022, we gained 55% more followers, 26% more listeners and 17% more streams compared to 2021.

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