The president and CEO of Jasper Wyman and Son in Maine denies accusations that processors are colluding to keep the price of wild blueberries down.
Tony Shurman told The Guardian that consecutive years of record crops in Canada have caused an oversupply of wild blueberries, which has driven down prices across the industry as a whole.
Last week, the Northeastern New Brunswick Wild Blueberry Growers Association announced it had learned the federal Competition Bureau was investigating the blueberry industry in the Maritimes.
Related: Are low wild blueberry prices market driven or price matching?
The Guardian contacted Wyman’s of P.E.I. in Canavoy for comment but was referred to the Wyman’s of Maine offices and to Shurman. Between all of its operations, Jasper Wyman and Son employs 180 people, including 25 full-time employees at its plant in P.E.I. Although the company is in the processing business, Jasper Wyman and Son also owns more than 10,000 acres of wild blueberry fields in New Brunswick, Maine, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.
However, at least one major wild blueberry producer The Guardian spoke to said he thinks there might be something to the allegations.
The P.E.I. producer, who didn’t want to be identified, said producers were getting a mere 23 cents for their product last year.
“Prices are so low, they’re below the cost of production,’’ the producer said. “Producers are losing their farms.’’
The producer added that it doesn’t make any sense that Wyman’s has expanded and has millions of dollars in equipment and can sell a box of blueberries out of the plant for $2 a box but can’t afford to pay producers more than 23 cents.
The producer noted that knowing growers in the U.S. are getting a higher price weighs on his suspicions further.
Shurman says the expansion is all about growing the market for wild blueberries.
“We believe there’s an opportunity to revitalize the industry by driving demand and are working hard on innovation and marketing to enhance awareness for the remarkable health benefits and great taste of wild blueberries,’’ Shurman said. “We work to build long-term relationships with our growers and are committed to the long-term growth of the industry.’’
