Topics in this issue of Behind the Blue:
- From the Chair: Planning for a Prosperous Future
- USHBC Council Gathers at Blueberry Headquarters
- Sign Up for SMS Text Alerts From USHBC!
- Nominations Now Open for New USHBC Award and NABC Awards!
- Register for The Blueberry Convention, Take Advantage of Early-Bird Pricing
- Blueberry Leadership Program Fellows Visit Peru
- Event Launches Fresh Blueberry Season in Vietnam
- USHBC Contributes to Ag STEM Day in Georgia
- Leadership Class Spotlight: Meet Zach Semerikov
From the Chair: Planning for a Prosperous Future
By Bryan Sakuma
USHBC Chair
The USHBC has begun work to create a new strategic plan with assistance from The Directions Group, a strategic insights firm that assists with long-term planning to help organizations like ours set goals, navigate change and ensure we’re accomplishing our mission and vision. The 2026-2030 strategic plan will chart an ambitious course to exponentially grow the demand and value of blueberries domestically and across the globe.
Our work is just getting underway, and as a grower-driven organization, we want to hear from you! That’s why we’re working with The Direction’s Group, who will be reaching out soon with a survey seeking your input on USHBC efforts and programs. Please watch for it in your email inbox and take a few minutes to share your thoughts.
I also want to share that, throughout May, we’ve been meeting with state organizations and fellow growers to discuss our exploration of an assessment increase. We recently held meetings and gatherings with New Jersey, Georgia and North Carolina, and I’m grateful to Brian Bocock and Shelly Hartmann for helping arrange these meetings and even attending.
As a grower myself, I understand the immense challenges we’re all facing, including rising costs and razor-thin margins. The pressures are real, and I understand the emotions, the questions and concerns. The USHBC was created by growers to be an answer to our questions and a solution to address our concerns. Today, we’re listening, we’re strategizing and we want to ensure continued consensus on a path forward that protects our livelihoods and strengthens the future for our growers.
As a reminder, you can learn more about our assessment increase discussion on our assessment webpage.
You can also always reach out to me directly with any questions, concerns or input about the strategic planning process or the assessment exploration.
USHBC Council Gathers at Blueberry Headquarters
Members of the USHBC Council recently participated in a two-day retreat at blueberry headquarters in Folsom, California.
During the event, the group participated in a leadership training workshop using the Enneagram assessment tool and experienced a strategic planning exercise led by The Directions Group, our strategic planning consultant.
Sign Up for SMS Text Alerts From USHBC!
You can now opt in to receive SMS text message updates from the USHBC.
Sign up today to start receiving instant notifications about important blueberry industry news, event reminders and updates on industry programs and opportunities.
Get started by filling out this form and providing your mobile number.
Nominations Now Open for New USHBC Award and NABC Awards!
Nominations for the NABC Awards – and our new USHBC Elizabeth White Award celebrating the extraordinary contributions of women in the blueberry industry – are now open!
We’ll be honoring thought leaders in the blueberry industry at The Blueberry Convention this fall, and we need your help identifying deserving recipients.
Learn about the awards, then send in your nominations by June 30.
The Blueberry Hall of Fame Award
Honors leaders, growers and suppliers who have made a lasting impact on the blueberry industry in North America.
The Duke Galletta Award
Recognizes excellence in blueberry horticultural research.
The Alex Wetherbee Award
Honors outstanding contributions in marketing and promotion.
Use the nomination links here to send in your recommendations.
The Elizabeth White Award
Celebrates women who have impacted the blueberry industry through groundbreaking research, innovative business practices, advocacy or leadership.
Help us honor women in blueberries by sending in your nomination here.
Register for The Blueberry Convention, Take Advantage of Early-Bird Pricing
Get the latest on the dynamic and evolving blueberry industry at The Blueberry Convention, October 8-10 in Seattle. This is your chance to join blueberry industry thought leaders and colleagues to:
- Explore cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking advancements shaping the future of the blueberry industry.
- Discover innovative solutions and smart tools to boost productivity and quality on Blueberry Lane.
- Connect, collaborate and exchange ideas with industry leaders and peers at dynamic networking events.
Plus, add our exclusive farm tour to your registration so you can join colleagues in visiting Golden Eagle Farms, Sakuma Brothers and more!
Sign up for The Blueberry Convention by Sept. 8 to save $100 on registration!
Plus, book your housing in our block at the Westin Seattle Hotel to save with our discounted group rate.
Blueberry Leadership Program Fellows Visit Peru
A delegation from the USHBC and Blueberry Industry Leadership Program class three fellows recently traveled to Peru.
While there, the group explored new opportunities for blueberries, learned from local agricultural experts and toured several blueberry farms, including Hortifrut and Camposal in Trujillo.
Stay tuned for updates on their journey and details on the insights they bring back.
A big thank you to Fall Creek for sponsoring Blueberry Industry Leadership Program class 3!
Event Launches Fresh Blueberry Season in Vietnam
USHBC helped launch the fresh blueberry season in Vietnam at the USA Blueberry Kick-Off Launch held at the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel on April 22. This annual event raises awareness of U.S. blueberries and provides attendees with valuable nutrition and meal guidance.
Distinguished guests who attended the event included Susan Burn, U.S. consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, and Andrew Anderson-Sprecher, senior agricultural attaché of the U.S. Consulate General. Attendees also included importers, supermarket representatives, wholesalers, produce retailers and media representatives.
Haiying Zhang, USHBC’s director of global business development, spoke about the upcoming blueberry season, yields, the harvesting process, import volume and health research during a presentation at the event.
USHBC Contributes to Ag STEM Day in Georgia
Students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Albany, Georgia, recently enjoyed a unique, hands-on learning experience focused on agriculture and STEM. Students learned about the crops grown in Georgia (yes, blueberries!) and other agricultural activities throughout the state.
To support the event and ensure learners received some fun takeaways to support their learning, the USHBC provided blueberry-inspired coloring books and stickers.
The day-long event helped expose students to agriculture and engineering content and careers through speakers, fun projects and hands-on activities led by STEM students and professionals, including engineers, scientists, colleges, professional organizations and local businesses.
Leadership Class Spotlight: Meet Zach Semerikov
Class 3 of the Blueberry Industry Leadership Program is in full swing, and we’re excited to introduce you to a fellow from the class each month in Behind the Blue.
Zach Semerikov is the food safety and quality assurance manager for Oregon’s largest Individual Quick Frozen (IQF) blueberry processor, Scenic Fruit Company.
Over the past six years, he has led the adaptation of the company’s policies and procedures to meet evolving industry and regulatory demands, while ensuring customer quality standards are consistently exceeded. Semerikov’s intensive expertise in frozen fruit processing provides a valuable perspective to the USHBC Blueberry Leadership Program, where he aims to contribute meaningfully to the growth and innovation of the blueberry industry.
In his spare time, Semerikov enjoys golfing, cooking and all things fermentation. Passionate about blueberries, he has created unique concoctions like fermented blueberry habanero hot sauce, blueberry wine and a blueberry lavender ice cream named after his daughter, which was done in collaboration with a local artisan parlor and is now a permanent feature on its menu.
Honored to be part of USHBC’s third leadership class, Semerikov said he looks forward to making lasting contributions to the blueberry industry.