03/10/05 Highbush blueberry checkoff, Pt. 1

Just recently, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, its Board of Directors and staff, met to discuss marketing strategies for the upcoming year. It also learned of new appointments to the Board to serve a two year term. So what is the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, and what does it do? Ask Mark Hurst, an Oregon highbush blueberry grower and chair of the Council. HURST: The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is a U.S.D.A sanctioned program that allow us to collect mandatory assessments from growers. So this was started in 2001. In other words, a check-off program, to help fund promotion, research and the spread of consumer information about highbush blueberries. And one Hurst said was needed, since past attempts to unite growers in marketing efforts resulted in voluntary assessments and not much money to fund programs. HURST: We were able to immediately double our budget and since 2001, we've actually doubled our budget again. Not only are we accessing U.S. growers. Hurst believes the Council is making headway in not only improving consumer interest in their commodity, but gaining new markets overseas. And that is a good thing, considering the West, especially the Northwest states of Oregon and Washington, and the Canadian province of British Columbia, are among North America's largest producers. More on that in our next program.