Blueberry Industry Advocates for Policies That Support the Competitiveness of Blueberry Producers in Washington, D.C.

FOLSOM, Calif. – A delegation of 80 blueberry industry members from across the country joined the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) in Washington, D.C., for The 2026 Blueberry Hill Climb—the industry’s annual advocacy fly-in. 

“The 2026 Blueberry Hill Climb demonstrates that our industry’s greatest strength is its collective voice. By bringing the reality of blueberry farming to the halls of power, we’ve ensured our priorities aren’t just heard, they’re heard and factored into the very policies that will shape the future success of our growers and the industry at large,” said NABC President Kasey Cronquist. 

NABC Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy Alyssa Houtby added: “There’s power in a united voice, and The Blueberry Hill Climb brings our industry together to champion the long-term success of every grower. These conversations are essential to bridging the gap between the field and Capitol Hill,” Houtby said. “It was an especially meaningful time for the blueberry industry to be in Washington as the House Agriculture Committee was marking up – and ultimately passed – the Farm Bill.”

“This critical event provided a vital platform to engage with the Trump administration, members of Congress and key policymakers to champion the blueberry industry’s interests,” said NABC Chair Teddy Koukoulis. “In-person advocacy remains the gold standard; it’s the most effective way to ensure our collective voice cuts through the noise and moves the needle for our growers.”

During the two-day event, industry leaders engaged with officials from throughout the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including Richard Fordyce, Under Secretary for Farm Programs and Conservation; Dudley Hoskins, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Cody Cornell, Chief of Staff for the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Peter Laudeman, Policy Adviser for the Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. Additional briefings were provided by leaders from the USDA Agricultural Research Service and USDA Risk Management Agency, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

NABC board members and industry leaders also participated in a series of high-level meetings with senior administration officials. The delegation met with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the White House to discuss priorities affecting specialty crop producers and the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. blueberry industry. 

NABC representatives were also present at a joint event hosted by the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where new public-private partnerships to advance the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables were announced. 

The program also featured a fireside chat between U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling and Alyssa Houtby where the administration’s efforts to modernize the H-2A agricultural guest worker program were discussed. 

Attendees also heard from leading agricultural labor policy experts, including Lynn Jacquez, principal, CJ Lake LLC; Kristi Boswell, counsel for Alston & Bird; and John Hollay, president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, who provided insights on the evolving regulatory and legislative landscape affecting farm labor.

Christy Seyfert, president and CEO of the Farm Credit Council, delivered a keynote address outlining the economic outlook for agriculture, including challenges facing producers and opportunities ahead as Congress considers the next Farm Bill and potential economic assistance.

Throughout the event, NABC members advocated for policies to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. blueberry growers, including reforms to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program, improvements to disaster assistance and crop insurance tools, and support for federal nutrition programs that encourage greater consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The delegation met with lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill, including congressional representatives from blueberry-producing regions and members serving on the House and Senate Agriculture committees, including the chairs of House and Senate Agriculture Committees – Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), respectively.  

During the event, NABC presented the Blueberry Pinnacle Award to Rep. Thompson in recognition of his leadership in advancing policies that support specialty crop growers. The presentation took place during the pivotal House Agriculture Committee markup of the Farm Bill, highlighting the industry’s presence at the heart of the legislative process.

The Hill Climb concluded with the Red, White and Blueberry Reception, which brought together members of Congress, congressional staff and industry leaders to celebrate the growing impact and value of the U.S. blueberry industry.

About the North American Blueberry Council

Since 1965, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) has been the voice of the blueberry industry in the U.S. and Canada. NABC’s members represent approximately 70% of the North American highbush blueberry crop. NABC was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more at nabcblues.org.