Topics in this issue of Behind the Blue:
- October 2022 Nielsen Report Now Available
- New Podcast Episode: Blueberry Flavor Preferences With Patricio Muñoz, Ph.D.
- Happy Thanksgiving From USHBC
October 2022 Nielsen Report Now Available
The October 2022 Nielsen report shows that total blueberry sales (fresh and frozen combined) are up +17% in volume and up +2% in dollars vs. 2021.
October is the month where supply has begun to catch up to consumer demand. Total fresh blueberry sales are up +22% in volume and up +2% in dollars vs. year average (YA). The fresh organic segment is up by +24% in volume and up +4% in dollars vs. YA. The fresh conventional segment is up +22% in volume and up +2% in dollars vs. 2021.
October marks the second month in a row for decreases in average price per pound for all fresh blueberries. At retail in October 2021, the price was $5.53/lb, which has decreased -16% to $4.61/lb. Fresh conventional blueberry prices have decreased -17% from $5.18/lb in October 2021 to $4.32/lb. Fresh organic blueberries’ retail prices have decreased by -16% from $7.45/lb in October 2021 to $6.26/lb.
The frozen blueberry segment is down -6% in terms of volume, but up +2% in terms of dollars compared to October 2021. The frozen conventional segment is down slightly (-1%) in volume and up +10% in dollars compared to last year. The frozen organic segment is down -27% in volume and -22% in dollars compared to last year.
The average retail price per pound for all frozen blueberries in October 2021 was $3.48/lb, up +8% to $3.77/lb in October 2022. Frozen conventional blueberry prices have risen by 11%, from $3.25/lb in October 2021 to $3.59/lb in October 2022. Frozen organic blueberry prices increased by +7%, from $4.62/lb in October 2021 to $4.93/lb in October 2022.
Find monthly Nielsen retail sales data that measures U.S. consumer blueberry and competitive berry purchases here.
In the latest episode of “The Business of Blueberries,” host Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) and the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), sits down with University of Florida blueberry breeder Patricio Muñoz, Ph.D., to talk about flavor. This was recorded live at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Florida.
Topics covered include:
• How the University of Florida collects data on flavor to guide its blueberry breeding program.
• The factors that influence overall blueberry flavor.
• How all of this knowledge informs tools like the “flavor wheel” for blueberries.
Click here to listen to the podcast episode.
Crop Report
The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. Today, you’ll hear from Mario Ramirez in Mexico and Luis Vegas in Peru. This was recorded on November 16, 2022.
Happy Thanksgiving From USHBC
As Thanksgiving approaches, we have much to be grateful for this season: strong support across the industry, impressive progress toward our strategic plan, engagement in philanthropic efforts, opportunities to make connections and many other successes from the past year. For all this and more, we’d like to give thanks to you, our extended blueberry family, for all that you’ve done for the industry.
It’s our great pleasure to work for an industry made up of such innovative, hardworking and caring people.
The entire team here at the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council wishes you and yours a happy Thanksgiving!