August 14, 2014, Napan, NB – Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz recently announced an investment of more than $1,700,000 to the Wild Blueberry Association of North America to be used to market and promote Canadian wild blueberries internationally.
The investment will help the wild blueberry sector to access new, and boost existing, foreign markets. Marketing campaigns targeted at the United States, European Union and East Asia will promote the benefits of using Canadian wild blueberries. In addition outreach to trade representatives and consumers will occur through meetings, trade shows, and incoming missions to Canada.
“For over 30 years, the Wild Blueberry Association of North America Canada has had the mandate to promote the use and consumption of Canadian Wild Blueberries around the world,” said Neri Vautour, executive director of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America Canada (WBANA). “WBANA Canada members have been fortunate to be able to work in partnership with the Federal Government and with cost sharing programs, such as the AgriMarketing Program, to increase worldwide demand, continue to develop and expand our wild blueberry industry and to create a much stronger rural economy in Canada.”
Wild blueberry production in Canada has increased to meet export demand, which, over the past 10 years, has grown by over $40 million. In 2013, wild blueberries generated close to $196 million in export sales.
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