Seattle, WA—October 9, 2023 — Demand for blueberries stayed high, but the supply of quality blueberries was at an all-time low after the Pacific Northwest harvest season ended in late summer.  The anticipated volumes from South America did not arrive as expected to fill the gap.  Reports revealed that this shortage was due to the adverse effects of El Niño in Peru, bringing hotter temperatures which affected production volumes.  This resulted in a dramatic 64% decline in exports of blueberries from Peru into the United States as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Having used RipeLockers for season extension of their blueberries in the past, Washington blueberry grower Oasis Farms, Inc. in Prosser, Washington benefited greatly this year by being able to sell their entire supply stored in the chambers to a high-end retailer searching for inventory to fill their shelves.  RipeLockers not only held blueberries in premium condition but also helped to sustain and increase the grower’s margins outside of their normal selling season, fetching a much higher price per pound.

Though an unfortunate situation – the shortage of blueberries this year created a huge opportunity to demonstrate the value of RipeLocker’s patented postharvest technology for growers to store and extend the season of quality fruit to provide inventory to retailers for longer periods.

“This was a win-win situation. Oasis was able to season extend high-quality shipments which greatly benefited the customer, Oasis, and ultimately the consumer. Today’s produce world is extremely dynamic and subsequently difficult to accurately predict. The supply chain needs every tool possible to adapt to a rapidly changing market environment. RipeLocker is one of those tools and has the potential to be game-changing,” exclaims Brenton Roy, President of Oasis Farms, Inc.