How Much Do Blueberries Cost?

Blueberries are a North American native which were first produced for commercial purposes in 1916; U.S is known to produce the blueberries in the world and in 2016 the around 700 million pounds of cultivated and uncultivated blueberries were yielded and consumed. Have you ever wonder How much do Blueberries Cost?

Talking about the prices of the blueberries, they fluctuate in prices depending on many factors in which some of them are related to its freshness, the location that is cultivated in, preservation etc…

So how much blueberries cost?

• In 2020, farmed raw blueberry expenses averaged $1.40 per pound, while manufactured blueberry costs averaged $0.78 per pound. The average market rate for uncultivated blueberries, both raw and processed, was $0.60 per pound.
• Fresh berries fetch greater prices, but because they expire fast, they should be treated with caution and sold immediately. Using correct post-harvest management procedures, whether buying wholesale or at a farmers market, is one approach to increase the price of fresh blueberries. After harvesting, the berries must always be chilled immediately. This reduces the berry’s surface heat, extending its life span.
• Manufactured blueberries don’t normally sell for as much as raw blueberries, but they really do contribute to blueberry consumption. Blueberries have indeed been prepared in virtually each way known to enhance its price (refrigerated, dried, sweet liquid, juices, dietary supplements, etc.). Offering fermented blueberries straight to regional cafes may be another method  to increase its price  value .
• Blueberries are grown at the minimum in 14 states. The US produced and distributed around 590 million pounds of farmed blueberries in 2016. Raw blueberries accounted for around 315 million pounds, whereas manufactured blueberries accounted for 274.2 million pounds. Raw and manufactured farmed blueberries were worth $720.2 million in total.
• Michigan was the government’s largest manufacturer of planted blueberries, with 110 million pounds worth $130.4 million manufactured and distributed. Washington, Oregon, and Georgia were the next three leading producers. Maine was the largest manufacturer of lowbush, or “untamed” blueberries, with 101.6 million pounds produced and consumed. There were 380,000 pounds of raw blueberries and 101.2 million pounds of manufactured blueberries.  Wild blueberries, both raw and manufactured, were priced at $27.7 million overall. The US shipped 58.9 million pounds of mixed blueberries (uncultivated and domesticated) for $107.7 million in 2017. Canada really was the largest purchaser of mixed berries, prior to South Korea. Refrigerated blueberry shipments from the United States were about 53.1 million pounds, worth $53.2 million.
• Raw and Refrigerated blueberries are net importers in the United States. The country imported 137.8 million pounds of raw  blueberries for about $842.1 million in 2017Over half of the raw  blueberries originated from Chile, which supplies raw blueberries to U.S. food stores from the half of November passing through the end of January. Nearly a quarter of the raw blueberries imported into the United States came from Canada.

So why are the blueberries that much expensive?

 Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors that contribute to the high price of blueberries.

1. Location: – Whenever it relates to in which they might develop, blueberries are extremely finicky. Blueberries can be grown in certain regions in the summer but not in the winters, and vice versa. When the weather changes, such as more or less rain during a season, you’ll find that the cost of blueberries changes as well. A lack of water, as well as a drought, might result in a bad crop. Blueberries must sometimes be produced in a more regulated setting, which raises the price.

2. Picking by hand: Even though many fruits and veggies must be hand-picked, very few of them are as time-consuming as the blueberry. Blueberries are quite tiny and must be hand-picked. You must pick single blueberry at a moment when picking blueberries. You can’t shake the plant and expect all of your blueberries to fall into a pail. So the cost of blueberries would surely rise as a result of this manual picking.
3. Shipping and Handling with Care: Blueberries are sensitive after plucked, and they must be kept refrigerated. Blueberries would go sour when they’re not kept frozen. You’ve probably noticed that blueberries aren’t kept in the same area as apples, nor are they kept in the refrigerator or milk department. They, like people, prefer to be maintained in a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. The longer the blueberries are kept at these temperatures, the more likely they are to make it to the consumer in good condition. So People will have to pay more for blueberries as a result of all of these separate issues.
4. Healthy

conclusion

we can say that production and manufacturing of the blueberries are not an easy process, so that will of course contribute to a very high and expensive prices of the blueberries all over the world.