Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Florida Blueberry Growers Gather for Annual Meeting

By Frank Giles

In October, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association hosted its annual meeting in Lakeland. Educational sessions focused on a variety of topics that are top-of-mind for growers.

Grower Survey Results

Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, shared results of his annual grower survey. There were 61 growers responding, covering roughly 88% of the state’s blueberry acreage.

Survey results showed the highest-yielding varieties last season were Arcadia and Winter Bell. Kestrel and Meadowlark were reported as the lowest-yielding varieties. Arcadia and Sentinel were reported to be the most profitable varieties.

“On the disease front, we had a good number of growers who said they really didn’t have any significant diseases this year,” Phillips said. “So, that was good news, but leaf rust took the top spot as most problematic.”

Focus on Chilli Thrips

Phillips’ survey illustrated the ongoing challenge posed by chilli thrips in the state. Thirty-seven growers listed it as their biggest pest problem. The No. 2 pest on the list was gall midge, receiving only three mentions by growers.

In an extended Q&A session, growers discussed just how bad the chilli thrips problem has become. Some in attendance described the pest as a “crisis” in the berry industry. The pest has plagued strawberry growers, too. Not surprisingly, a presentation on Florida Blueberry Growers Association research priorities put an emphasis on chilli thrips management.

Oscar Liburd, UF/IFAS entomologist, presented his research on managing chilli thrips. His trials in 2024 showed the insecticides Apta, Exirel and Transform were most effective in controlling chilli thrips and resulted in the lowest thrips damage levels. Delegate insecticide, which was once a good-performing product, was least effective in controlling chilli thrips and showed the highest level of thrips damage.

Liburd also recommended cultural practices to mitigate pest populations. This includes removal of plant debris, hedging and pruning of young plants, and the elimination of weeds and infested plants.

Consumption Promotion

Amanda Griffin, vice president of engagement and education with the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, spoke about efforts aimed at increasing consumption of the crop. She said there’s plenty of room for growth.

Consumer research data showed only slightly over one half (51%) of U.S. consumers had eaten blueberries over the past three months. Of those consumers, 20% eat them monthly and 53% eat them weekly. Griffin said efforts to promote blueberries to find new consumers and increase frequency of blueberry consumption are underway.

“We aren’t reaching enough of the population, and those who have bought in aren’t buying enough,” she noted.

With U.S. blueberry production expected to increase, promotion efforts are more important than ever. Currently, the U.S. retail blueberry volume is about 500 million pounds. By 2030, the volume is expected to increase to 1 billion pounds.

Griffin also discussed the BerrySmart online platform (ushbc.blueberry.org/berrysmart) that provides resources to growers. The platform provides information on production, food safety and marketing of blueberries.

Breeding Priorities

An ongoing theme throughout the Florida and U.S. blueberry industry is the drive to move to mechanical harvest of blueberries. The difficulty of sourcing labor and its expense is a critical limiting factor in grower productivity and profitability.

Patricio Muñoz, UF/IFAS lead blueberry breeder, said that any new varieties being developed by the university must pass the mechanical harvesting test. But yields, quality and taste are always priorities. He said new varieties will be critical in pushing up the statewide production average of 4,500 pounds per acre. 

“We’ve been hearing really good yield reports with our new variety Sentinel, especially in the central and southern growing areas,” he said. “With Sentinel, we’ve recorded yields of 34,000 pounds per acre on 5-year-old plants; 24,000 pounds on 2-year-old plants and 7,000 pounds on 1-year-old plants.”