IRVINE, CA - Point me to the blueberries. With warmer months on the horizon, shoppers will be looking to the berry patch to satisfy their need for sweet and refreshing fruit. For GEM-Pack Berries, consistently good quality is carving out opportunities for the company’s supplier partners. My advice to you? Paint the produce department blue!

"Our blueberry crop has had consistently good quality and supply," Michelle Deleissegues, Vice President of Marketing, tells me as we discuss the current berry market. “In addition, the weather has been beautiful as of late in Central Mexico, which is great for blues right now. We are expecting a warmer than usual start to summer, which can affect quality of course.”

As the supplier reports, blueberry demand has been consistently strong, creating a tight, steady market with steady pricing as well. Overall, GEM-Pack’s growers have seen better pricing in 2024 than in 2023.

With quality remaining on the strong side, GEM-Pack’s retail partners have the opportunity to truly tap into the category over the coming months. One surefire way of achieving this is through creative cross-merchandising designed to inspire shoppers in the produce department.

“Blueberries’ mild flavor and rich hue pair beautifully with many other spring and summer fruits. Mixing them into displays with melons or tropicals, like papaya and mangos, can broaden shoppers’ perspectives and increase overall sales,” Michelle advises.

Don’t miss out on all the potential provided by this beloved berry category!

ANUK will continue to dig into the latest merchandising strategies for berries and beyond, so leave a tab open.