Welcome to the Food Manufacturing Hub

Simple, delicious, versatile and healthy, blueberries are beloved by consumers around the world – and they’re ripe with possibility for food & beverage manufacturers. 

The versatility of blueberries inspires endless possibilities for innovation. In every format and across all kinds of flavor pairings, these little berries make products pop. Blueberries fit on all aisles of the grocery store, from sweet to savory and beverages to entrees. 

Adding a boost of blue is smart business, too. As a familiar favorite, blueberries encourage product trial – and their “premium” glow can translate to elevated sales. 

Blueberries Boost the Bottom Line

• Far-reaching consumer demand
  
• Health benefits proven as a top purchase driver
  
• Year-round availability with consistent and reliable supply
  
• Low-labor, low-waste ingredient

• Natural Sweetness: Blueberry ingredients offer a range of ideal solutions to add natural sweetness in product formulations including no added sugar, artificial flavors or preservatives
  
• Color: Natural source of fun and appealing color

• Versatility: Blueberry ingredients come in many forms (dried, infused, puree, frozen), perfect for inclusion across food categories
  
• Adaptability: Blueberries pair well with other foods, making them ideal in both sweet and savory applications

Our 2020 Global Opportunity Assessment sought to better understand which product categories and markets are driving blueberries’ impressive global growth – and what makes a blueberry product successful. Here’s what we found²:

• The Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific are emerging key markets where blueberries are gaining notable popularity among consumers due to their strong blueberry product growth over the last five years.
  
• Successful brands are celebrating blueberries on labels to tap into growing consumer trends: plant-based foods, clean labels, real ingredients and performance claims.
  
• Visuals of REAL blueberries on packaging with messaging around their associated health benefits may help drive sales.

• U.S. blueberry consumption continues to increase. From 2000-02 to 2017-19, U.S. fresh blueberry consumption grew over 510%.³
  
• In 2019, per capita use of fresh blueberries reached 2.33 pounds (1,056.87 g.) and frozen per capita consumption was 0.32 pounds (145.15 g.), totaling 2.65 pounds (1,202.02 g.).⁴
  
• In a recent survey, 80% of manufacturers agreed adding blueberries to their products provides consumers with perceived or additional health benefits. Plus, blueberries’ color and flavor add to their popularity, with a majority of manufacturers surveyed citing that blueberries provided added value to their customers.⁵
  

Blueberries are an ingredient and flavor consumers recognize and demand.

• 80 calories per serving (1 cup) and virtually no fat
  
• Good source of fiber, a good source of Vitamin C, and provides various vitamins and minerals
  
• Contain polyphenols including anthocyanins (163mg/100g fresh berries), which impart the blue color¹²
  
• Certified as heart-healthy through the American Heart Association® Heart-Check Food Certification Program

Learn more about blueberry’s health benefits to optimize your product’s packaging and drive greater interest and demand.

In collaboration with leading food manufacturing professionals, USHBC’s R&D Advisory Board stays on the forefront of food trends, addressing barriers to industry growth and label penetration.

The board identifies collective solutions that expand and strengthen the demand for U.S. blueberry ingredients while driving sales and utilization in leading food categories.