This May Be the Year of the Blueberry

While here in New York, blueberries have long taken a back seat to strawberries in popularity, new medical research touting the health benefits of blueberries and a proposed nationwide marketing campaign by the North American Blueberry Council may make 2000 the year of the blueberry.

Information

from the New York Agricultural Statistics Service ranks New York State ninth nationally in blueberry production, with 700 acres harvested and 1.9 million pounds of blueberries produced last year. (In comparison, New York produced 7.8 million pounds of strawberries last year.) Frank Wiles, executive secretary of the New York State Berry Growers Association (NYSBGA) says the actual figures could be as much as 3 to 4 times higher. "Berry growers are not well identified within the state. It's hard to profile the blueberry grower because there are so many small, autonomous growers in New York. There's a lot more blueberries being grown in New York State than people realize." Wiles says that there are more than 165 berry growers in the NYSBGA, but estimates that the number of berry growers in New York is closer to 300.

Recent research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tuft's University in Massachusetts has shown that out of 40 common fruits and vegetables blueberries contain the highest concentration of antioxidant. Antioxidants have been found to play a major role in the prevention and delaying of the onset of cancer and heart disease. The pigment that gives the blueberry its deep blue color, a pigment called anthocyanin, has been proven to slow down the aging process, according to the Tuft's University research. Additional blueberry research at Rutger's State University has proven that eating the berries on a regular basis can help relieve eyestrain, and prevent urinary tract infections, as well as a number of other common ailments.

Taking advantage of these findings, the North American Blueberry Council has proposed a new promotion and research program to help boost sales among the nation's more than 2,000 growers and importers of cultivated blueberries. The program was developed to help finance a coordinated program of promotion, information, and research designed to maintain and expand markets for cultivated blueberries in the United States and abroad. Financing would come from an assessment on blueberry growers and importers of $12 per ton a year. The USDA will conduct a referendum among eligible blueberry producers and importers from March 13 through March. 24 to see whether the program should be implemented.

Wiles supports the North American Blueberry Council's proposed campaign and thinks most berry farmers will support the USDA referendum. "The blueberry growers I've talked to are all very positive about this program. If the referendum is passed, there will be almost $1.5 million annually that can be used for market research and promotion."

The potential is there for blueberries to become as popular a crop as strawberries, Wiles says, to consumers as well as growers. "Blueberries are a 'yuppie fruit' - an easy, convenient food source in our fast-paced world. They're mouthpoppers - there's no skin to peel or seeds to spit out, they're very userfriendly. Blueberries are colorful and look good in salads, biscuits, and pies. And now we're being told they're neutroceutical. They're high in antioxidants, they're great for our kidneys and there are compounds in the blueberries that break down some of the cholesterol in our system. How often do we find something that tastes good, looks good and is good for us besides?"

Paul Hafner, who has been growing and selling blueberries locally for more than three decades, says that for the first time in many years he is excited about this summer's blueberry crop. "It has been a struggle growing blueberries in New York State, competing against the giant blueberry farms in New Jersey and Michigan. But because of all the recent health-related news regarding blueberries, I expect an increase in the demand for the fruit, from both local grocery chains as well as individuals."

Ann Hyatt, consumer-affairs manager for Wegmans, says blueberries have beenselling exceptionally well in the past few months. "We've seen a huge increase in blueberry sales recently, but we think part of it was the great growing conditions in Chile. Because of those great conditions, the price of blueberries has been very low. So I don't know whether it's been the great price or the medical news or both - there's too many variables." Hyatt also says that once blueberries are in season in Central New York, usually around late June, Wegmans will "absolutely buy locally."