“In 2014, British Columbia’s 800 blueberry growers produced 69 million kilograms of blueberries,” said Debbie Etsell, executive director of the BC Blueberry Council. “Canadians consume around half of those berries, but with such a strong production, we’re able to export blueberries in many different formats to international markets around the globe.”
As in 2014, the council will again exhibit at Gulfood (February 8 – 12) as part of the AgriFood Canada pavilion in Sheik Saeed Hall 1, stand S1-M43. The show attracts 85,000 trade-only visitors from 170 different countries, with over 4,200 companies represented over the five-day event.
“Attending last year allowed us to measure the amount of interest and demand for blueberries from Middle Eastern markets, but also meet with potential customers from India, other parts of Asia and Europe,” said Etsell. “As a result, we now have some of our export-ready packers and processors working with agents based in the Gulf region to bring British Columbia blueberries to this market. We’re looking forward to seeing some of the representatives we met last year, and connecting them with suppliers that can fulfil their requests, whether they’re looking for blueberries in fresh, frozen, dried, powdered, juice or puréed formats.”
The BC Blueberry Council works closely with government trade offices at both a provincial and federal level, making the most of opportunities to take part in trade missions, delegations and shows such as Gulfood. Other international missions planned for 2015 include Fruit Logistica and Anuga in Europe, FoodEx in Japan, and Fruit Logistica Asia in Hong Kong.
About the British Columbia Blueberry Council
The British Columbia Blueberry Council represents over 800 blueberry growers, located in some of Canada’s most rich and fertile farmland. Plantings of premium quality highbush blueberries top 11,300 hectares in British Columbia and produce upwards of 69 million kilograms of blueberries annually. With more than $1 billion in sales in the past five years, Canada is the third largest national producer of sweet and juicy highbush blueberries in the world. Available fresh in B.C. from July through September, BC blueberries are also frozen, dried, juiced, puréed and powdered, available for year round-distribution throughout Canada and around the world.
