Blueberries heavily influenced by supply and demand

Blueberries are very sensitive to supply variations.

The lowest prices occur in June and July. In June, California, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Oregon fill the market, and in July, supply comes from New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Michigan.

On the other hand, high prices occur during the U.S. low season in October and November, when supply comes from Argentina and Peru, and in smaller quantities from Mexico and Chile.

The second highest price level can generally be found in late April when Chile drops blueberry exports and before the U.S. season begins. This month is primarily supplied by Mexican blueberries. Chilean berries enter the U.S. market in greater amounts when prices start to drop from their highest after-season price.

Shipping point prices by port of entry show seasonal price trends, with Peruvian blueberries arriving in Philadelphia and New York with the highest prices in October ($15.02) and November ($9.00) in 2016, and in October ($11.28) and November ($14.95) in 2017. Argentina also earns high shipping point prices in October, shipping by air to the Los Angeles International Airport.

The second-highest shipping point price during the U.S. low season is received by Mexican imports in April: in 2015, prices rose to $10.13; in 2016, to $15.30; but in 2017 pricing fell to $11.25. Mexico generally benefits the most from high pricing in November and April.

Lowest prices occur during months of excess American supply from June to July (and August if harvest starts late). An example is Georgia, showing prices as low as $4.26 in June 2015, $2.40 in July 2016, and $3.93 in June 2017. Oregon and Washington also hit their lowest pricing in June and July but averaged 67 percent higher than Georgia.