BY
R-CALF |
January 24, 2021
Billings, Mont. – Thursday January 21, 22 groups representing ranchers, farmers, manufacturers, and workers sent a letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in support of United States blueberry growers’ request for relief from surges of low-priced imported blueberries that threaten the viability of their domestic farms.
In September 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) opened an investigation under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 to determine if United States blueberry growers were being harmed by increased blueberry imports. The American Blueberry Growers Alliance, representing mostly small, family-operated blueberry farmers in states including California, Florida, Georgia and Michigan, alleged that imports of blueberries from Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Canada increased dramatically over the past five years, and are driving domestic blueberry farmers out of business.