North American Blueberry Council. of Folsom, CA reports U.S. blueberry production is expected to reach 700 million pounds this year, up from 637.2 million pounds in 2023.
An exceptional summer blueberry shipping season would follow Georgia’s record volume last year with an even bigger crop — 115 million pounds — in 2024.
North Carolina’s volume is down slightly from last season, but quality is great. Likewise, New Jersey and Michigan are set for a strong season with excellent pollination and fruit set. Additionally, growers in the Pacific Northwest anticipate a larger crop than last year.
Fresh volume out of California could be off because of lan anticipated heat waves materialize during the second half of the Golden State’s blueberry season.
Overall, quality of U.S. blueberries is expected to be good this summer.
Naturipe Farms of Salina, CA will have blueberries from New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon and Washington. The company reports exceptional quality and flavor.
Naturipe also sources blackberries from Georgia, North Carolina and California and sources raspberries from central Mexico and the country’s Baja California region.
Consalo Family Farms of Vinenland, NJ recently expanded a packinghouse at its Egg Harbor City, N.J., blueberry farm. The company offers New Jersey blueberries starting in early June but offer berries year-round.
Gem-Pack Berries of Irivine, CA sources raspberries out of Baja California, California’s Watsonville/Salinas growing region and Oxnard, CA.
The grower/shipper reports the quality and flavor of Watsonville raspberries have been awesome.
Naturipe notes it will have significant volume of new acres of its new proprietary blueberries in all of its blueberry-growing regions, resulting in higher volume this year.