Topics in this issue of Behind the Blue:
- Message From the USHBC Chair
- Bryan Sakuma Board Profile
- NABC Awards Nominations Due by July 15th!
- Recap of the USHBC Leadership Class Trip to Peru
- July is National Blueberry Month
- USHBC to Present at International Vaccinium Symposium
Message From The USHBC Chair
By Shelly Hartmann
I am thrilled to announce and build momentum towards the ongoing collaboration between the USHBC and Major League Pickleball. This collaboration is designed to increase public awareness of the health benefits of blueberries. This partnership targets pickleball enthusiasts, encouraging them to incorporate more blueberries into their diets for a healthy and active lifestyle. Excitingly, Martha Stewart recently featured an article discussing this partnership! I hope you will take a glance at it.
As we enter July, I am delighted to invite you all to the Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I will be attending and would love to see you there as well!
As we gear up for the busy season, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your dedication and hard work in this dynamic industry. Your efforts are truly appreciated.
Go Blueberries!
Meet USHBC’s Vice Chair Bryan Sakuma, Export and Global Community Relations, Sakuma Brothers Holding Company
1. What was your first job in blueberries?
My first job in blueberries was helping plant commercial fields. I am a third-generation berry grower in Washington State. I started working at Sakuma Brother Farms in 1989 and was the lead nursery salesperson for the Pacific Northwest for Norcal Nursery, Inc.
2. What makes you passionate about the industry?
I am passionate about the people in the industry and providing healthy and great-tasting fruit for the consumers. I enjoy being the vice president of sales and marketing for Sakuma Brothers Holding Company, my primary focus is frozen and fresh markets sales.
3. What do you love about your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is selling blueberries. I love to witness the joy on people’s faces when they savor a perfectly ripe berry.
4. What’s one of your goals for being on the board?
One of my goals for being on the board is to participate in creating demand for the increasing supply.
5. If you weren’t in the blueberry business, what would you be doing?
If I weren’t in the blueberry business, I would be engaged in cultivating and selling other berries.
Send in Your NABC Awards Nominations by July 15
There are just a few days left to nominate an outstanding blueberry industry colleague for an NABC Award. The deadline to submit nominations is July 15!
Help us recognize blueberry industry luminaries who have made a lasting impact by taking just a few minutes to send in your suggestions for the following awards:
Hall of Fame Award
The NABC Hall of Fame Award celebrates blueberry leaders, growers and suppliers who have impacted the blueberry industry in North America. The award is the council and industry’s highest honor, and is open to influential leaders, past and present. Selection is based on candidate attributes in leadership, collaboration, industry support, longevity and innovation.
The Alex Wetherbee Award
The Alex Wetherbee Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the blueberry industry in marketing and promotion. Alex Wetherbee was one of NABC’s founders and a blueberry marketer from New Jersey who was respected industry-wide for his passion in promoting blueberries. Let us know who you think is carrying on these efforts!
The Duke Galletta Award
The Duke Galletta Award recognizes excellence in blueberry horticultural research. The award is named in honor of Duke Galletta of Atlantic Blueberry, an inaugural member of the NABC. Galletta was very involved in blueberry varietal development and worked with USDA plant breeders, allowing them to set up test plots on Atlantic Blueberry land. Tell us about others in the industry who are leaders in horticultural research!
This year’s winners will be honored at The Blueberry Summit, Sept. 25-27 in Denver.
Learn more, then send in your nominations!
Recap of the USHBC Leadership Class Trip to Peru
This month, the USHBC and the Leadership Class visited Peru for an inspiring trip and a behind-the-scenes look at the Peruvian blueberry landscape. During the trip, they explored new opportunities, learned from local agricultural experts, and visited several blueberry farms. They visited Hortifrut, Camposol, and Prize Farms in the Trujillo region.
On the second half of their trip, they had an incredible opportunity to visit the Ica region, where they toured Fall Creek’s Nursery and Family Tree Farms. The group witnessed the dedication and expertise that go into producing top-quality blueberries, further enriching their understanding of the industry. It was an inspiring experience highlighting the passion and innovation driving blueberry agriculture. We want to thank Luis Vegas for his hospitality and support in organizing the trip!
July is National Blueberry Month!
July is National Blueberry Month, a time to celebrate one of summer’s favorite fruits. Blueberries, known for their sweet flavor and vibrant color, make a delicious and healthy addition to any diet. As peak blueberry season arrives, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy fresh blueberries in various forms—whether in smoothies, salads, desserts, or simply by the handful. Join the festivities by incorporating more blueberries into your meals, visiting local farms for fresh picks, and exploring new blueberry recipes.
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has partnered with (MLP), another reason to celebrate blues even more this July! There will be two MLP events in July: the first will be the mid-season tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 10 to 14, and the second event will be in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 25 to 28.
To help make this National Blueberry Month one of our biggest yet, we’re kicking off the Great American Blueberry Challenge on July 1 to celebrate all the ways consumers enjoy blueberries! There are two main components:
- Consumer Social Challenge: We’re inviting blueberry fans to share the creative or wacky ways they enjoy blueberries for a chance to win $10,000! For example, eating blueberries with chopsticks… while blindfolded!
- Eating Competition (Professionals Only): We’re gathering the nation’s top professional eaters at the MLP mid-season tournament in Grand Rapids to compete in an exciting contest to eat as many blueberries as they can in 8 minutes.
No matter how – or how much – people love blueberries, there’s an exciting way to make the most out of National Blueberry Month. Contest details will be available to promote on the consumer website, GrabaBoostofBlue.com starting July 1.
USHBC to Present at International Vaccinium Symposium
The International Vaccinium Symposium occurs from August 24 to 29, 2024, in Halifax and Charlottetown, Canada. Over 200 oral and poster presentations will occur, and 300 to 400 attendees from over forty countries will participate! Oral and poster presentations on breeding, genomics, production systems, plant physiology, soil fertility and plant nutrition, pest management, postharvest technologies, health research, marketing and economics, precision agriculture, mechanization, and processing techniques will also occur. The Symposium will also provide an opportunity to explore highbush blueberry operations. For more information or to register to attend, visit https://dal.ca/ivs.