BC growers aren’t blue over the “new norm” in global demand for blueberries. Located next to the ocean and adjacent to the Fraser River in the southwest corner of British Columbia, Delta and the Fraser Valley are ideal for growing high bush blueberries. The mild temperatures, humidity and rich soil lend themselves to growing the small, nutritious berries that are gaining popularity because they’re packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, potassium and vitamin C; making them a favorite of doctors and nutritionists due to the fact that they can lower the risk of heart disease and cancer and are anti-inflammatory as well as delicious. While most marketers know that having a product that is not easily duplicated by the competition gives you an advantage – and the growers of high bush blueberries understand that – there is strong competition from several other countries, including the U.S., however the roughly 800 growers in the province have managed to meet the demands of consumers in North America and Asia by providing not only superior quality from the growers, but also from transportation providers. Last year the industry in B.C. produced roughly 120 million pounds of berries and this year it appears as though the crop will come in at about150 million pounds, making B.C. the largest high bush blueberry growing area in the world according to the B.C. Blueberry Council (Overall, Canada is the third largest producer of high bush blueberries globally). In addition to the growers, the blueberry industry is important to the transportation industry in the Lower Mainland as each fall truckers, ocean shipping firms, container terminals, air freight, and logistics firms are involved in moving the fruit to domestic, U.S. and overseas markets as fresh, frozen or juiced berries. Ray Biln who operates Silver Valley Farms and a fruit packing plant in Maple Ridge, B.C. told AJOT that the blueberry industry had “incredible years” of profitability between 2001 and 2011. During that 10-year period newcomers to the industry thought that the high prices were the “new norm” for the industry and invested heavily in blueberries. However, Biln now believes the industry has returned to a period where some years’ prices are not as high and he predicts that in this new environment prices will generally be lower. The industry’s major market for fresh blueberries, he said, is the U.S. and Canada with some growth into Asia. In the quick frozen market domestic sales are large, sales to the U.S. are large and sales to Asia are continuing to grow. “We do see continued growth in Asia and other areas,” he said. In July of this year the federal government announced an investment of Cdn$117,000 to the B.C. Blueberry Council to “help the Council boost its international presence by strengthening relationships with importers of high-bush blueberries through trade missions and participation at major trade shows in Europe, Asia and the Middle East,” Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade said in making the announcement. Fast also pointed out that recent trade agreements are expected to increase overseas blueberry sales. The Canada – European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is expected to significantly boost trade and investment ties, he said since upon entry into force, CETA will eliminate tariffs on fresh, frozen and processed blueberries and other berries. As well, during a trade mission to China an agreement was reached to expedite work that, when completed, is expected to increase the value of the industry by Cdn$65 million annually. Transporting the berries to market requires a variety of transportation modes ranging from truck to air freight and marine containers. Biln said: “Truck is used primarily for the transport of fresh blueberries, LCL (less than container) is used a bit, airfreight is used at the tail end of the season mainly to Toronto if the price makes it viable, to Asia for fresh air freight is used quite a bit on the shoulders of the season, but to be cost competitive in the peak season it requires containers going by sea.” However, even though the berries are shipped in cold containers Biln said berries to Asia have to be the “very, very best and they have to be handled with care.” Ray Burton, Director of Transportation and Logistics for B.C.- based Snowcrest Foods, the primary marketer for Silver Valley Farms and for growers in Canada, the United States and Chile, and a company that has been transporting product for B.C. growers for over 50 years, said the berries are exported through Deltaport, Fraser Surrey Docks and, occasionally, SeaTac in Washington State. “If shipped by ocean the berries spend 12 to 14 days on the water and about 18 days to Taiwan and 21 days to Hong Kong, and then you’ve got two or three days on the origin side and a couple of days on the other side for loading and unloading.” Asked if a variety of blueberry needs to be developed to better stand up to the travelling time by ship between Deltaport and Asia, Burton said fresh berries that are now grown in the Lower Mainland stand up well to the trip. “I go to all these countries every year to make sure our coaching stays intact … to make sure our berries are being handled properly,” he said.” Burton said that Japanese consumers see blueberries as a “super fruit” just as North American consumers do. “Three or four years ago most people in Asia didn’t even know what a blueberry was,” he said. He said that most countries in Asia now represent “huge” potential for B.C. growers. “What everybody’s working on now,” he said, “is for Canada to ship directly into Mainland China.” When that happens the market will be “massive.” “With Mainland China opening up we just have to make sure we can handle the logistics,” Burton said. “I think we do more than anyone to make sure that our berries arrive (in good shape) and we teach the receiver how to handle them, how to transport them from the airport or seaport to their distribution centers, what temperature we require so they can get maximum shelf life and get the best berries to market.”