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Distinguished Blueberry Industry Leaders Get Deserved Time in the Spotlight

By North American Blueberry Council|October 22, 2026

The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) honored six admired members of the blueberry industry during an awards breakfast at the 2026 Blueberry Convention, held recently in Monterey, CA.

Honored with the Hall of Fame Award were Ron Bodtke (posthumously), of Cornerstone Ag Enterprises; and Mark Hurst, of Hurst Family Berries. The council and industry’s highest honor, the Hall of Fame Award celebrates leaders, growers and suppliers who have made a lasting impact on the blueberry industry in North America.

Ed Wheeler, breeder and project manager at MBG Marketing, was honored with the Duke Galletta Award. This award recognizes excellence in blueberry horticultural research.

The Alex Wetherbee Award winners were Bryan Sakuma, manager at Sakuma Brothers Farms and former USHBC chair; and Shelly Hartmann, owner of True Blue Farms and former USHBC chair. The Alex Wetherbee Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the blueberry industry in marketing and promotion.

And honored with the second annual Women in Blueberries Elizabeth White Award was Bonnie Lundblad of Jersey Fruit. This award celebrates the extraordinary contributions of women in the blueberry industry.

“Our industry’s growth is fueled by visionaries who dedicate their lives to pushing boundaries and lifting up everyone around them. This year’s honorees embody the true spirit of leadership and innovation,” says NABC and USHBC President Kasey Cronquist. “Their extraordinary contributions have not only shaped where the blueberry industry stands today, but are paving the way for where we’re headed next.”

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Industry members and the NABC Nomination Committee were invited to submit nominations for these prestigious blueberry industry awards. Nominations for the 2027 awards will open in summer 2027.

For more information, visit nabc.blueberry.org.

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Since 1965, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) has been the voice of the blueberry industry in the U.S. and Canada. NABC’s members represent approximately 70% of the North American highbush blueberry crop. See all author stories here.