Consumers’ Interest in Blueberries Grow as Side Effect of Pandemic

U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council website
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council website

The COVID pandemic has impacted a lot of what we eat, how we eat, and where we eat.

One survey found that when the pandemic ends, more than half of respondents said they will continue cooking more from home.

Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), is looking to benefit from this trend.

“We’re looking at a consumer group that is looking increasingly for both fresh and frozen [blueberries],” he said. “In the last four months of the global pandemic and stay-at-home orders, we’ve seen people turn to blueberries in ways they hadn’t before.”

Cronquist said more people are looking at the types of foods they are purchasing since there have been disruptions with food service.

“We’ve been doing everything we can to keep up with that demand in order to provide what we believe is an exceptional product in homes as people are going through a very difficult time,” said Cronquist.

Based on website statistics, USHBC has seen increased traffic of people looking for u-pick farms. The other area that has seen more interest has been recipes.

“People are turning to our website increasingly to find what you can do with blueberries—either what to do with the u-pick or the ones purchased at the store—what to do with frozen blueberries, how to make a puree or some sort of dessert,” said Cronquist. “It’s been really encouraging and it does relate to what the demand has been at the market.”

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