This month marks the beginning of the peak season for blueberry harvest in the United States. This year, the production of blueberries in the United States remains at a high level in recent years, and the market supply is sufficient.
The export of fresh blueberries from the United States to China began in 2021. These blueberries are mainly produced in Washington State and Oregon, the two states with the largest blueberry production in the United States. In particular, blueberries in Oregon have been exported to China steadily for three consecutive years.
The United States has always been a major consumer of blueberries, with only about 5% of the total production being exported each year. But in recent years, the U.S. Blueberry Association has been committed to promoting exports, with the goal of increasing exports to 10% of production by 2025. As an emerging market for blueberry consumption, China's growing import demand has consolidated its position as an important overseas market for U.S. blueberries.
In May this year, the U.S. Blueberry Association received a subsidy of $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Agricultural Promotion Program to expand export channels for U.S. blueberries. U.S. blueberry exports to China usually peak in July and August, and this year's first batch of blueberries will arrive in China next month.