Economics of organic blueberries

A recent cost of production study of organic blueberries in eastern Washington shows that it will take 9-10 years to pay back all the initial establishment costs for the planting. A grower will need to received over $1.60 per pound on a fresh berry yield of 17,850 pounds per acre at full production to break even. A very large increase in blueberry production worldwide, both organic and conventional, in the last few years is increasing supplies, and for the most part demand growth has kept up. Berries are now the top selling fresh fruit category in the grocery produce department for both organic and conventional.