Blueberry Industry Votes to Continue National Research and Promotion Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that U.S. highbush blueberry producers and importers approved continuing the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order.

In the referendum, held from July 13-24, 2026, 58% of producers and importers, representing 84% of the volume represented in the referendum, voted in favor of continuing the order. For the program to continue, it must be favored by a majority of producers and importers voting in the referendum, who also represent a majority of the volume of blueberries represented in the referendum.

The order establishing the program requires USDA to conduct a referendum every five years to determine whether the industry is in favor of continuing the program. To participate in the referendum, producers and importers must have produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush blueberries during the representative period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, paid assessments during that period, and must currently be producers or importers subject to assessment under the program.

The blueberry program is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996. The program was developed to administer an effective and coordinated program of generic promotion, consumer information and related research designed to drive consumption of highbush blueberries within the U.S and internationally. The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has administered the program since 2001.

For more information about the Council, visit the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council webpage or the Council's website, ushbc.blueberry.org.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight of 21 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

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