Consumers seem willing to absorb increased costs for imported berries
Consumers seem willing to absorb increased costs for imported berries
U.S. consumers want their berries and often appear willing to pay what the market demands.
In speaking with a sampling of grower-shippers, produce brokers, wholesalers and retail produce buyers, few expressed concern to The Produce News that consumers would shy away from what might be high prices for certain imported berries.
Having year-round or nearly year-round supplies of berries requires that berries be imported by the United States since domestic crop schedules can't provide year-round supplies, especially to meet increasing demand.
A freeze in the Tucuman region in northern Argentina in early September is going to cause blueberry crop losses with estimates that varied widely, from well below 50 percent of the crop to as much as 80 percent.
Jerry Moran, bushberry category manager for Watsonville, CA-based California Giant Berry Farms, said that the impact of the losses would not be felt until October. The freeze delayed the start of the blueberry harvest in the Tucuman region. Further south in Argentina, the Concordia area typically follows Tucuman several weeks later. It was expected that Argentinas losses would not be made up with later volume from Concordia or Buenos Aires.
In Chile, the blueberry harvest for most companies should begin around early November or later, and high volumes are expected. As of mid-September, U.S. retailers already were preparing to switch from 4.4-ounce clamshells to 6-ounce clamshells to handle the volume.
Los Angeles-based Gourmet Trading Co. is one company that offers "super blues" - blueberries that are 18 millimeters in size and larger. Julia Inestroza, merchandising manager for Gourmet Trading, said that retailers could get a premium on super blues.
Some imported berry varieties such as blackberries are enjoying a surge in consumer interest. Washington, DC-based Sun Belle Inc. is among the larger international players across the bushberry category. The company launched in 1986 and has grown rapidly in recent years, in part with the addition of its Sun Belle Berries subsidiary in Chile in 2002.
Sun Belle subsidiary Sun Belle Mexico is perhaps the largest grower-shipper of blackberries in Mexico, according to Janice Honigberg, the companys chief executive officer and president. The company has a handful of distribution centers across the United States and ships fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and red currants worldwide from farms in Chile, Mexico, Argentina and the United States.
Blackberries appear to lag behind blueberries in media coverage, yet like blueberries are reputed for their antioxidant benefits. Sun Belle and other companies produce the Tupi variety blackberry, which has been gaining in consumer interest.
In speaking with a sampling of grower-shippers, produce brokers, wholesalers and retail produce buyers, few expressed concern to The Produce News that consumers would shy away from what might be high prices for certain imported berries.
Having year-round or nearly year-round supplies of berries requires that berries be imported by the United States since domestic crop schedules can't provide year-round supplies, especially to meet increasing demand.
A freeze in the Tucuman region in northern Argentina in early September is going to cause blueberry crop losses with estimates that varied widely, from well below 50 percent of the crop to as much as 80 percent.
Jerry Moran, bushberry category manager for Watsonville, CA-based California Giant Berry Farms, said that the impact of the losses would not be felt until October. The freeze delayed the start of the blueberry harvest in the Tucuman region. Further south in Argentina, the Concordia area typically follows Tucuman several weeks later. It was expected that Argentinas losses would not be made up with later volume from Concordia or Buenos Aires.
In Chile, the blueberry harvest for most companies should begin around early November or later, and high volumes are expected. As of mid-September, U.S. retailers already were preparing to switch from 4.4-ounce clamshells to 6-ounce clamshells to handle the volume.
Los Angeles-based Gourmet Trading Co. is one company that offers "super blues" - blueberries that are 18 millimeters in size and larger. Julia Inestroza, merchandising manager for Gourmet Trading, said that retailers could get a premium on super blues.
Some imported berry varieties such as blackberries are enjoying a surge in consumer interest. Washington, DC-based Sun Belle Inc. is among the larger international players across the bushberry category. The company launched in 1986 and has grown rapidly in recent years, in part with the addition of its Sun Belle Berries subsidiary in Chile in 2002.
Sun Belle subsidiary Sun Belle Mexico is perhaps the largest grower-shipper of blackberries in Mexico, according to Janice Honigberg, the companys chief executive officer and president. The company has a handful of distribution centers across the United States and ships fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and red currants worldwide from farms in Chile, Mexico, Argentina and the United States.
Blackberries appear to lag behind blueberries in media coverage, yet like blueberries are reputed for their antioxidant benefits. Sun Belle and other companies produce the Tupi variety blackberry, which has been gaining in consumer interest.
