“The harvest is several weeks behind compared to last year. We have just started the season and therefore the current volume is lower than last year,” says Brian Bocock, vice president of product management at Naturipe. “However, there is good bud break this season and the harvest looks set to be plentiful. There have been no major frosts, so we are confident there will be a solid blueberry supply for the rest of the year, despite initial setbacks."

Although it's too early to know for sure, on the surface, Bocock says the harvest looks better than last year. He notes that, at this time, supplies are coming from central Florida and the south, but that the rest of the state will go into production in early April.

Imports from Chile and Mexico

This means that the Florida market hasn't really been established yet, as there are very few chargers on the market. “Right now, the market is still dominated by imports from Chile and Mexico, and that volume is above 2020 levels,” says Bocock. We expect Chile to finish soon, and even with Mexico on the rise, we expect to see some price rise in the coming weeks.

Chilean imports will decline while Mexican volumes grow. “We anticipate the March volume to be slightly lower than last year, but overall, the Florida crop looks strong, peaking in mid-April,” he says.

As for demand, it remains strong among traditional retailers, and Bocock says Naturipe expects consumption from eastern retailers to be good during the Florida season. “Last year there were drastic changes in consumer buying habits due to COVID-19, but we can confidently say that demand for this upcoming season will develop as normal and we don't expect any setbacks,” he says.

Looking ahead to 2021, Bocock notes that Naturipe is working to offer new products, which includes the development of varieties through its own breeding program.