Special Blueberry Report: Seven Steps To Success

Veteran Florida blueberry grower Ken Patterson says the blueberry industry is a rock-solid business that has matured, but some basic economic principles and practices must be adhered to. Here are some of his keys to ensure a successful business venture.
1. You must get your debt down and keep it down. The prices in this business will probably never get better but an efficient operation with high production can still make a good profit. Unfortunately, the small grower (and there are many) will probably have to be almost debt-free to remain in the black. I expect many to move into U-pick earlier every year.
2. Pick your marketer carefully, stay with them, and support them with accurate harvest data. If they don’t know what’s coming, they can’t prepare. Bouncing around from broker to broker does not help the industry at all. Encourage them to discontinue Chilean product when Florida begins their season.
3. Replant with the most recently released varieties when able. Our existing varieties will probably be obsolete in five to seven years. The University of Florida has some exciting new varieties being tested that should be available in a few years.
4. Machine picking is on the horizon. If your scale of operation is large enough, keep your eye on these varieties when released. The cost of entry into machine harvesting and packing is high, but long-term it is a justifiable change especially with the political climate regarding our labor force.
5. Foreign pressure is here to stay — get used to it. For decades, other growing regions have worked hard to produce in our window and counties like Mexico and Chile have now succeeded. I see very little we can do about it other than to emphasize U.S., and specifically Florida, fresh-grown blueberries.
6. Stay GlobalGap certified. All growers need to adhere to these practices. Many buyers now require this certification and the industry needs the credibility. It only takes one issue to dramatically affect our pricing for years to come.
7. Automate every chance you get. It will lower your cost and reduce your labor risk.