BerrySmart Field in Action: Turning National Investment into Local Insight in Florida
BerrySmart Field was established by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) to ensure emerging technologies are tested, validated and refined on real farms — so growers can make better decisions with less risk. Launched initially in the Pacific Northwest, the program expanded in 2025 to include on-farm deployments in Florida and New Jersey, reflecting USHBC’s commitment to learning across diverse production regions and conditions. Rather than asking individual growers to experiment on their own, BerrySmart Field invests nationally to generate practical, transferable insights that benefit the entire U.S. blueberry industry.
Florida presents one of the most demanding production environments for blueberries. Compressed harvest windows, labor intensity, bird pressure, and narrow margins mean that small inefficiencies can have outsized consequences. These conditions make Florida an ideal proving ground for BerrySmart Field.
In 2025, BerrySmart Field launched its first season at Florida Blue Farms in Gainesville, working in partnership with innov8.ag and grower Brittany Lee. Florida Blue Farms began in 2010 with 50 acres, expanded to 112, and is now operating approximately 60 acres as part of a strategic replanting effort. The farm produces almost entirely for the fresh market, with varieties including Farthing (25–30% of acreage), Meadowlark, and San Joaquin, and new plantings underway with Sentinel, Optimus, and Farthing. As Lee explains, “Farthing is still my largest variety and best producer, but for the industry, Optimus and Sentinel look like the next up-and-coming varieties.”
Because the project began in April — just as harvest was starting — Season One focused on establishing a strong baseline rather than trying to do everything at once. Two pre-plant blocks totaling 13.5 acres were mapped using SoilOptix soil mapping technology. The resulting maps showed solid overall soil health, with organic matter ranging from 2.4%-4.1% and most nutrients within recommended ranges, though magnesium variability emerged as an area for future attention. In Florida’s flat, high-rainfall conditions, early identification of variability — paired with land leveling — has proven especially valuable for managing drainage ahead of planting.
Alongside soil work, early exposure to yield modeling through Bitwise highlighted a long-standing industry challenge: forecasting. For years, blueberry growers — particularly in Florida — have struggled to reliably predict production. More accurate, data-driven forecasting has the potential to improve decisions at the farm level while also supporting better planning for marketers, helping align supply and return the best possible value back to growers.
Season two builds directly on these insights. The focus is now on earlier, more deliberate data collection and tighter integration with research already underway in Florida. BerrySmart Field is working with the University of Florida’s (UF) blueberry breeding and R&D team, led by Patricio Munoz, to explore how on-farm data can integrate with UF’s rover-based tracking of flowering, fruit development and yield potential. There is also active exploration of expanding this work into neighboring farms to better understand variability across sites and management approaches. Looking ahead, additional areas of interest include evaluating bird mitigation strategies and the potential role of drone-based mapping to further improve in-season visibility and decision-making.
Looking ahead to 2026, BerrySmart Field is about compounding learning over time. Each season adds confidence, clarity, and context — so growers across the country can benefit from proven insights without having to be the first to take the risk. This is how USHBC turns national investment into on-farm confidence — reducing uncertainty, improving decision-making and delivering value where it matters most: in growers’ fields.
Add Your Voice to The Blueberry Hill Climb
Each year, a delegation from the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) heads to Washington, D.C., to meet with policymakers about the most critical issues affecting the blueberry industry. Over the course of two days, the team connects with leaders in the presidential administration and Congress to discuss policies that support the competitiveness of U.S. blueberry producers.
This year, that includes ag workforce and H-2A reform; Farm Bill programs like improvements to disaster assistance programs and risk management tools; and federal nutrition programs that can drive greater blueberry consumption.
You can add your voice and experience to our delegation by registering to join us at The Blueberry Hill Climb, March 2-6 in our nation’s capital!
Hearing from blueberry industry experts helps drive home the grower experience – and that can make all the difference in future policy decisions.
Register at https://nabc.blueberry.org/events/the-blueberry-hill-climb-industry-meetings-2026/ by Jan. 23 for early-bird pricing.
NABC Expands Health and Nutrition Efforts
At the 2025 Blueberry Convention last October the North American Blueberry Council’s (NABC) United Blueberry Advisory Committee (UBAC), also known as the “MOU group,” took a decisive step to strengthen the industry’s voice in health and nutrition policy.
The UBAC – composed of importers who voluntarily double their USHBC assessment to support increased promotions and marketing, improved data and insights, and industry advocacy – voted unanimously to allocate significant additional resources to NABC’s government affairs program, with a targeted emphasis on health and nutrition policy.
This investment will enable NABC to translate years of rigorous nutrition research supported by the USHBC into policy outcomes that directly drive blueberry consumption.
Growing national attention on health, particularly through the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, creates a timely opportunity for the blueberry industry. With additional resources in place, NABC will work to position blueberries as part of the solution to the nutrition challenges policymakers are focused on today.
Our goals are to secure a clear distinction for berries in the 2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, increase government procurement of blueberries across federal nutrition programs, and advance nutrition policies, such as Food Is Medicine, that encourage greater blueberry consumption.
At its core, the industry’s health and nutrition affairs work is about driving demand by reinforcing blueberries’ role in a healthy daily diet. Turning that science into policy impact requires strategic advocacy and public affairs to influence decision-makers. By combining traditional government affairs with a broader public affairs approach, we will leverage growing political interest in health to achieve these goals while protecting the blueberry “health halo.”
With UBAC’s added support, NABC is well positioned to elevate blueberries in key policy conversations, engage new health and nutrition champions within the administration and Congress, and ensure blueberries are included in the programs and guidance that shape how Americans eat. By aligning strong science with smart advocacy and leveraging the momentum of MAHA, we are taking meaningful steps to grow blueberry consumption for years to come.
CREDIT
USHBC
