Canadian blueberry growers are watching and waiting as the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) launches a trade probe into supplies of the popular fruit.
Canadian growers were first made aware of the issue on September 1st when the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced it would instruct the USITC to launch an investigation analyzing whether U.S. blueberry growers were being affected by imports.
“Global production has exploded in blueberries. Canada and USA used to be the traditional growing countries but recently we are seeing growth in South American countries as well as in Mexico,” says Anju Gill, executive director of the B.C. Blueberry Council in Abbotsford, B.C. “Perhaps that’s shaken the market a little bit and as a result, getting more attention.”