Farmers in general tend to have an independent streak. They work through challenges, solve problems, make tough decisions, and plan how to keep moving forward, all while carrying the burden themselves. But there’s a big difference between independence and isolation, and one doesn’t have to mean the other.

The challenges Florida’s blueberry growers faced this harvest year underscore the importance of connecting and finding solutions as a whole rather than individually. Labor, rising costs, new pests, disease, changing regulations, research, technology … and that’s not even half of it. They are setbacks each grower is intimately familiar with, yet they are problems that extend beyond the boundaries of any one farm.

Nobody is expected to have all the answers, but there is power in numbers. That’s what makes organizations like the Florida Blueberry Growers Association and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council so valuable. They enable researchers, professionals, industry partners, and growers to pool knowledge, explore possibilities, share experiences, and troubleshoot together. 

The FBGA’s Fall Meeting and Trade Show taking place October 15 at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland will be a great opportunity to network, tap into resources, and get a peek into the latest research. There’s still time to register at floridablueberrygrowers.org.

Next year, Florida growers will have an even bigger chance to make connections when the USHBC holds its 2027 Annual Meeting right here in Florida in Wesley Chapel from October 12–15, 2027. That means growers can connect with blueberry professionals from around the country.

The most useful treasure you take home from meetings like these isn't programs or freebies, but insight and contact information for others facing the same obstacles (and successes) as you.

I can’t wait to see you at the FBGA meeting!