South African market opens to US fresh blueberries
After nearly a decade of collaboration between blueberry organizations, South Africa has officially approved market access for fresh blueberries from all U.S. states.
The market will be added to the comprehensive facility registration form that the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) publishes every September for the following season, and all facilities intending to ship to South African must register. Exporters should look for an email next month with facility registration details, according to a news release.
If a grower-shipper is interested in shipping during the 2025 season, USHBC recommends contacting Alyssa Houtby, North American Blueberry Council (NABC)/USHBC director of government affairs, as soon as possible.
“We’re grateful to the dedicated team at USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for their collaboration and for securing a science-based and practical work plan for blueberry growers and packers,” USHBC said in the release.
Although South Africa’s blueberry market has evolved significantly since the original access request, NABC and USHBC remain optimistic about the opportunities this market presents, according to the release.
“We believe strongly in the importance of open, science-based trade, and will continue working to expand and strengthen global market access for U.S. blueberry growers,” USHBC said in the release.
The export milestone comes after nearly a decade of collaboration among NABC, USHBC, the California Blueberry Commission, Oregon Blueberry Commission and Washington Blueberry Commission.
USHBC also recognized Rufus Isaacs of Michigan State University for his technical guidance on the operational work plan, and USHBC’s partners at Bryant Christie Inc. whose support helped advance the request.
