North American Blueberry Council.
For more Information, please contact our office at:
North American Blueberry Council (NABC).
PO Box 1036, Folsom, CA 95763.
E-mail: info@nabcblues.org
Fill the: Contact Form
Visit the: USHBC
July is Blueberry Month
USHBC Received Positive Program Evaluation.
Folsom, Ca.- As required by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) must complete a formal program evaluation every five years. Results of the initial USHBC evaluation show positive results and a strong endorsement of the USHBC program. USHBC program progress was evaluated based on data from 2001 to 2004.
The objective of this independent evaluation was to determine the domestic market impacts of USHBC generic promotion programs, and to compute an average benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for the promotion activities conducted by the USHBC. The research examined whether the domestic promotion activities conducted by the USHBC since 2001 had a positive and statistically significant impact on domestic shipments of blueberries and grower profits. The impact of all factors affecting domestic blueberry demand (where data was available) was measured statistically. In this way, the impact of other important factors affecting domestic demand was accounted for over time.
The results indicated that generic blueberry promotion has had a positive and statistically significant impact on per capita blueberry demand. The evaluation also indicated that generic blueberry promotion by the USHBC had a positive impact on the blueberry growers’ price over this period. The report notes increased per capita consumption of blueberries since the late 1970’s from a low of 5.1 ounces per person in 1978 to a high of 19.1 ounces per person in 2004. According to the evaluation report, “there is significant evidence that the USHBC promotion programs have been beneficial for the domestic blueberry industry. The average BCR over all supply responses was 7.86, i.e., the benefits of the promotion activities of the USHBC exceeded the costs by almost eight-fold.”
October 13, 2005.
NABC Announces New Members
The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) approved eight new members at its meeting held in Grand Rapids Michigan October 13, 2005. The New members:
Blue Harvest, Inc., Fruitport, Michigan
Curry and Company, Brooks, Oregon
Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises, Inc., McMinnville, Oregon
Hartmann's Plant Company, Lacota, Michigan
Hunter Farms, Fairview, California
Paul Brothers Blueberries, Inc., Fruitport, Michigan
Paul-Nelson Blueberries LLC, Fruitport, Michigan
Sunny Valley International, Inc., Glassboro, New Jersey
October 11, 2005.
MBG Marketing Honors Blueberry Pioneers
Two NABC members were honored by MRB Marketing with their annual pioneer award which has been awarded since 1973 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the blueberry industry.
Ronald E. Bodke (view award citation)
Donnie H. Morris. (view award citation)
July 11, 2005.
Mr. Oscar Austring - British Columbia Blueberry Pioneer
It is with sincere regret that we report the passing of British Columbia blueberry pioneer, Oscar Austring. He passed away late Saturday, July 9, 2005 after a stroke and two week hospital stay. He developed pneumonia and other complications. At the time of his death, Oscar was with his wife Bev and family and grandchildren when he said goodbye. Oscar was 89 years "young." The funeral will be held at the Maple Ridge Alliance Church, 20399 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, British Colombia Canada - Friday, July 15, 2005 at 1:30 pm.
May 16, 2005 .
Mr. Donnie Morris - Blueberry Industry Leader Passes Away
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Mr. Donnie Morris our long time friend and colleague, passed away on Monday, May 16, 2005. (details)
January 23, 2005
Mr. Gary Curry - Fresh Blueberry Marketer
We are sad to announce the death of Mr. Gary Curry on January 23, 2005. Gary has been a long time marketer of fresh blueberries in his company Oregon Onions, and more recently named Curry & Company. Gary was a great friend of the blueberry industry and a positive force in the development of the fresh blueberry category in North America and abroad. (obituary)
November 29, 2004
Mr. Harry Moore - Blueberry Industry Leader
We are sad to announce that our friend Mr. Harry Moore passed away on Saturday, November 27. Mr. Moore was a long time member and supporter of the North American Blueberry Council and, as the owner and operator of Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms, also served on the North Carolina Blueberry Council and the Tru-Blu Cooperative Board of Directors.
Marking his outstanding achievements and contributions to the blueberry industry, Mr. Moore was nominated to receive the NABC’s Alex Wetherbee Award this year and also received the 2004 Pioneer Award from the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association. His leadership, contributions to our industry and friendship will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 30 at the Ivanhoe Baptist Church in Ivanhoe, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the Ivanhoe Baptist Church Mission Fund, 3550 Ivanhoe Road, Ivanhoe, North Carolina 28447; or to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice & Life Care Center, 725-A Wellington Avenue, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Moore family and we wish them our best in this difficult time.
April 2004
Industry Pioneer William G. Galletta Passes Away.
The Following message is from the Atlantic Blueberry Company.
April 6, 2004
Dear Friends,
We regret to inform you of the passing of one of our company's founders, William E. Galletta. He died yesterday afternoon at his residence in Hammonton, New Jersey. He was 91 years old.
Viewing and funeral arrangements have been made and a scholarship fund has been created. The details are as follows:
Wednesday, April 7, 2004, a viewing will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. or so at Carnasale Funeral Home on Third Street in Hammonton.
On Thursday, April 8, there will be a viewing at 9:00 a.m. followed by funeral services at 10:00 a.m., with the burial at Greenmount Cemetery in Hammonton.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been set up, and those wishing to make a contribution may do so as follows:
William E. Galletta Scholarship Fund
c/o Daniel Galletta
6 Moss View Lane
Hammonton, NJ 08037
For any other information, please call our office (Atlantic Blueberry) at 609-561-8600.
July 2003
USDA Secretary Proclaims July as Blueberry Month.
(view proclamation)
April 2003
New Jersey School Seeks Recognition of Blueberry as the official State Fruit. Teachers and students at Veterans Memorial Elementary School in Brick, New Jersey.
USHBC seeks nominees for regional members and alternates
April 7
2003-- The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is now seeking nominees
to fill regional council member and alternate positions on the Blueberry
Promotion, Research and Information Order. Terms for current USHBC regional
members and alternates will expire December 31, 2003. The nomination period
for the 2004 to 2006 term begins May 5, 2003. Potential nominees are required
to complete a USHBC nomination application and forward their application
on to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council office by June 9, 2003.
(full story)
November 12, 2002
Gus Anderson, Industry leader and NABC pioneer. It is with great regret that we report that Gus Anderson, Bow Washington passed away on November 12, 2002. His death was one day before his 80th birthday. Gus was a long-time contributor to the blueberry industry and a good friend to us all. He was instrumental in the formation of the US Highbush Blueberry Council and a far sighted proponent of blueberry promotions. Our positive thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and business partner Dorothy and family. Gus will be terribly missed by all of us in the blueberry industry.
September 4, 2002.
It is with great regret that we report that Pete Holbein, a blueberry industry leader and one of the founders of the North American Blueberry Council passed away on September 4, 2002. Before retiring and moving to Mississippi, Pete served as General Manager of the Michigan Blueberry Growers (MBG) and as the Treasurer of the North American Blueberry Council. The family expressed a wish that any memorial donations be directed to any local Shriner's office in memory of Pete Holbein.