RIDING THE “BLUE WAVE”
An Overview of the
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
Florida Blueberry Growers Association
September 19, 2013
The Blue Wave is Rapidly Approaching
World Blueberry Acreage from 1995 to 2012 Increased
from 50,000 Acres to Over 231,000 Acres
Consumption continues to rise!
“USDA-ERS calculations revealed an impressive
increase in national per capita consumption of
blueberries, rising from 0.26 pounds in 2000 to
nearly 1.3 pounds per person in 2011.”
Goal for 2015: 3 pounds per person!
HEALTH Drives Blueberry Consumption
Crop Value Tracks with Promotion of Health Research
720
120
660
110
600
100
540
90
480
80
420
70
360
60
USHBC
300
50
240
40
30
180
20
120
10
60
0
0
Source: USDA, ERS, May 2012
# P u b l i sh ed Research Ms
V a l u e ($ )
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
6
V al u e ($) o f Uti l i zed P ro d u cti o n (x
) 10
# M a n u s c ri p ts
Health Benefits of Blueberries Go Far
Beyond Antioxidant Activity!
Current Areas of Focus in USHBC Health Research
Brain Health, Cancer, Metabolic Syndrome
Cognitive Function
Obesity
Anti-inflammation
Cardiovascular Function
Insulin Sensitivity
Brain
Injury
Gout
Cancer
Metabolic Syndrome
If you have any 3 of these conditions:
 Abdominal obesity (pot belly)
 High cholesterol/high triglycerides
 High blood pressure
 High blood sugar/Insulin resistance
 Inflammation (High CRP)
Diabetes, Heart Disease, Reduced Cognitive Functioning
1 in 4 Americans has Metabolic Syndrome!
Prevalence Increases with Age
Ages 18-39: 10% have it
Ages 60-79: 40% have it!
United States,
T
How Much is Enough?
1 cup a day: Fresh or Frozen
www.blueberrycouncil.com
Your source for recipes/photos/health research
information and MORE!
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
Primary Target:
• Women 25 to 45
• Average to Above
Average Income
• Mothers and Young
Professionals
Secondary:
• Women 45+
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
Twitter: @Blueberry411
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
Foodservice Promotion
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
The USHBC export program
promotes fresh, processed
and further processed
blueberries with a focus on:
Peoples Republic of China,
Tawain, South Korea, Japan,
India, United Arab Emirates,
Mexico, Brazil, and Northern
Europe.
How does the USHBC
drive demand?
USHBC goal:
• 2015: blueberry exports to
15% of total production
• 2012: 7% (115.5m pounds)
exported
www.RideTheBlueWave.com
Your USHBC resource!
BLUEBERRY ALERT SYSTEM
The alert system is open to all blueberry growers, handlers, and marketers!
Be among the FIRST to receive industry updates and
important notifications with the Blueberry Alert
System.
Providing us with your contact information allows us
to contact you quickly and efficiently via email, text
message and voice phone call, with important news
related to the blueberry industry.
SIGN UP HERE!
http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/members/amerilert-tools/?type=signup
RIDE THE BLUE WAVE
Ride the Blue Wave is your up-to-date industry resource, on your cell phone, at all
times! Quickly and easily access the following information with a single touch:
• USHBC market promotion updates
• Up-to-date health research findings
• Blueberry usage, demographics and statistics
• Little Blue Dynamos® logo
To add Ride the Blue Wave to your iPhone, follow three easy steps*:
Type www.ridethebluewave.com
in your web browser and tap the
button to add to Home Screen
Add to Home Screen
Finished!
Industry info at the
touch of a button
Kathy Blake
[email protected]
646-218-2019