From the “land of the morning calm” — by popular demand — here is a short video on our Mascot Contest! 70 designers – 70 mascots and one winner! Tell us what you think!
It is great to see a blueberry product category like a muffin — turn into a product extension in a totally unrelated area! Check out the new Blueberry Muffin Cracker! (Lance)
Visited the Maple Leaf Lounge of Air Canada at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) yesterday morning on the way back from the BC Blueberry Council 25 year Anniversary Gala. Grabbed what I thought was a plan bagel and popped it into the toaster. All of a sudden the sick sweet smell of artificial blueberry aroma! Not only is this “blueberry” bagel artificial, but you cannot even see the artificial blueberries in the bagel. Not even a speck of the blue fat bits, grain bits or whatever they make them with was visible.
This is the worst I have seen yet and you can bet we will track it down and comment.
The South American nation of Colombia is a true emerging market for blueberries. Colombians love blueberries, they have locally produced blueberries available at times of the year.
Now, they are enjoying dried blueberries.
Check out this interesting pack just launched. Although named after a Canadian province — the dried blueberries are from the USA.
Blueberry Guy had a great time at the BC Gala. Wonderful turnout, great food, and especially a chance to meet some of the real pioneers in the blueberry industry. A few quick shots.
The highlight of the event, presentation to the Blueberry Pioneers! More on these wonderful people later!
Chairman Parm Bains of USHBC and Mark Sweeney the BC Blueberry Guru.
BC Blueberry Council Chairman Jason Smith, and my boss Mark Villata, Executive Director of the USHBC
Excellent North Indian Buffet
Look what I just got in the mail! The Annual USA Food Showcase is held each year in Chicago, sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). The “Blueberry Flyer” reports that thousands of domestic and international food industry buyers from more than 75 countries will attend. This flyer is sent to these thousands and will certainly give highbush blueberries some great exposure.
Nothing like fresh blueberries! Now, local fresh berries in April!!!
As a native Californian, “Blueberry Guy” did not have a lot of fresh blueberries to choose from while growing up. It is so wonderful to go to the market and see kids dragging their moms to the blueberry displays at the market.
Check out this ad from my local Mollie Stone market. While fresh blueberries have long been available in April from Florida, it is amazing to see the developments on the west coast!
Nothing like seeing a friendly face when abroad. Walking down the produce aisles in a Japanese store, saw this display of jarred blueberries from Oregon Berry Packing. Note the promotional material with Roy Malensky and his two sons Jeff and Brian! Japanese consumers look for a connection to their food supply, and local produce quite often contains information and photos of the farmers and the land they farm. While standing with my iPad, I noticed two consumers pass, notice the sign and scoop up jars of the product. Although this display was in the jam and jelly section — the jarred product normally is positioned in the produce section near the fresh berries.
Ten years ago, Taiwan was unfamiliar with blueberries. Now it is one of the leading markets for US fresh blueberries. Check out the Sheipa Leisure Farm in Wufang Township, Hsinchu County – Taiwan.
According to the website, they introduced highbush blueberries to the farm in 1988 and offer visitors a u-pick blueberry experience in July and August. The area is in the beautiful mountains near Sheipa National Park.
Congratulations to the British ,Columbia Blueberry Council which is celebrating 25 years on April 9, 2015! A Gala Indian dinner is planned in Surrey and Blueberry Guy will certainly be there!
For years we have been marveling at the Asian attraction to blueberries as part of a beauty regime. Ask consumers why they purchase: skin, hair, nails are the normal answer. For centuries Chinese and Asian medicine research has discussed the role of blueberries as part of beauty and skin care.
Here is our new booth which had a debut in a recent exhibition in Japan.
One of my daily jobs is to post new research citations for blueberries. I must admit, as the “Blueberry Guy,” I know a lot about blueberries and usage thereof. But, with health research — I am certainly learning each day. I receive the citations, then carefully post into our online database. Luckily, they are categorized. Some of this stuff is amazingly complex. But, exciting to be onthe front line of blueberry discoveries! You can go to the online database and search in a number of ways. This is a research database modeled after what research librarians use. Go ahead and make a search, but make sure to clear before next search. Time to add ten more citations!
http://blueberrytech.org/blueberry-database/
Blueberries have been considered beneficial for centuries in Native American, First Nations and other cultures around the world — anywhere they are grown.
Check out the following USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) searchable database titled: “Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Database.” Dr. Duke was a pioneer researcher at North Carolina State University and was taking “Nutraceuticals” long before there was a term for it. Note this database includes all plant parts including leaves, blossoms, roots as well as fruit.
Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Database
We are finding blueberries in some interesting places!
Check out these products fr: om Vietnam which contain real blueberries, and some beautiful blueberry identification on the package! Some ask why the interest. Well, if you look at the packaging it is apparent that blueberries are associated with beauty. Watch this market!
Check out the new USHBC booth for Asian markets! That gentleman on the right is our USHBC Chairman Parm Bains!
