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Why Are Blueberries So Expensive – 3 Conclusive Reasons!

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Blueberries are a healthy treat that you can enjoy at any time of the year.

Berries can be eaten raw or cooked.

Some recommend that you need to eat blueberries daily—the reason for it is that it contains a lot of nutrients and antioxidants.

Berries help reduce the symptoms of chronic diseases and help you lose weight if used consistently.

But there are some downsides to berries, and the most common that people face these days is that blueberries are so expensive.

If you have not noticed, the price of blueberries has increased in the last few years, but what is the reason behind it?

Today in this blog post, we will explain, “Why are blueberries so expensive?” And “How can you make your blueberries last longer?”

So, without procrastinating any further, let us move directly toward it.

Blueberries in a white cup—why are blueberries so expensive
Why are blueberries so expensive? – Image via Joanna Kosinska.

Why Are Blueberries So Expensive?

As you know, blueberries have a good reason for being expensive; they take some time to grow and can grow under specific conditions.

There are also many other reasons why blueberries are so expensive, including the fact that gathering berries takes plenty of time and is also a tedious process.

Thus, if you cannot grow blueberries, it is better to buy them in bulk when you get them at a discounted price.

And do not feel worried about the storage of blueberries because we will also go through how you can make your blueberries last longer.

But initially, we need to discuss why are blueberries so expensive.

These include:

1. Location

The blueberries are very fussy in case of their location of growth. In some climates, you can grow blueberries in summer but cannot produce them in winter, and vice versa.

Blueberry plants like to stay in comfortable conditions.

Many farms choose those crops to grow on which they can work throughout the year.

Doing so have two benefits for them:

  • It is easier for them to manage.
  • It is easier for them to train the workers.

And so, they do not feel interested in growing blueberries on their farms.

Plenty of fruits like to grow in warmer conditions, including those blueberries, which also need some warmth, but when it gets too hot and humid, they cannot grow.

If there is some change in weather, like the rainy season, you will notice that the price of the blueberries will go up there.

It is because drought can cause poor crops and heavy rain as well.

Blueberries need to be grown in a more controlled environment, which also increases costs.

2. Labor Cost

Although many fruits and vegetables must be hand-picked, few are as tedious and small as the blueberries.

While picking, you can pick only one blueberry at a time. There is no alternative way to pick all the blueberries at a time.

Therefore, it needs to be done by humans, which is a tiring and time-consuming process.

While picking all the blueberries from a single plant, workers require much time, as blueberries also need to be checked for ripeness.

One thing about blueberries is that they stop ripening once picked up, so they must be picked up at the right time.

Hand-picking thus increases the labor costs, which increases the price of the blueberries.

Blueberries on a plant—why are blueberries so expensive?
Why are blueberries so expensive? Blueberries need to be picked one by one manually, and there is no alternative way to do so—Image by Mario Mendez.

3. Delicate Shipping

Blueberries are delicate fruits, and once they are picked up, they need refrigeration for their maintenance.

If they do not get refrigeration, they will start to go bad.

The problem with blueberries is that they need to be kept cool during the shipping, which can be expensive, and you can see the reflection of this high cost in the price of your blueberries.

Have you noticed that when blueberries are present in stores, they are not in the same place as other fruits or milk?

This is because they require relaxed and comfortable environments.

The longer they are kept in these refrigeration areas, the greater the chance consumers will get these berries in great shape and taste.

If the farmer retains the berries without putting them into refrigeration, they will go bad faster.

Thus, proper refrigeration and other steps to maintain the berries are necessary.

How Long Do Blueberries Last Out of the Fridge?

As discussed earlier, blueberries are expensive and need proper refrigeration to stay fresh—they tend to go bad when they are not kept in the cold.

Blueberries can stay healthy for about two days out of the fridge.

If suitable conditions are not met, you will notice the mold starting to grow, and blueberries will begin to lose shape.

If you keep them in the refrigerator, you certainly will get much longer than two days out of them.

How to Make Blueberries Last Longer?

If you purchase a bunch of blueberries from the sale or wherever and want them to last for a long time, a quick trick will help you a lot.

Initially, wash your blueberries in water and vinegar solution.

“Vinegar is a standard household product that is excellent to use as a natural cleaner and is effective against many microbes like bacteria and fungi.”

  • To prepare the solution, add one tablespoon of vinegar to a couple of cups of water.
  • An increase in the concentration of vinegar may cause your berries to get a tart taste.
  • Rinse the blueberries in the solution, and you will kill all the molds from your berries.
  • Molds are responsible for the rinsing and poor taste of the blueberries.

But if you are going to follow this trick, make sure to wash the berries after the process with clean water.

That is all for today’s discussion!

Now it is time to move toward the conclusion.

Bulk of blueberries—why are blueberries so expensive?
Why are blueberries so expensive? You can buy blueberries in bulk at a discounted price and store them properly to make them last longer—Image via Joanna Kosinska.

Conclusion

Why are blueberries so expensive? I hope you got your answer!

Blueberry is an extremely healthy and tasty fruit containing plenty of health benefits.

But it is very costly.

  • The reason is that blueberries require a specific location and conditions to grow.
  • It needs to be picked one by one by hand, and there is no alternative to gathering all the berries at once.
  • Also, the blueberries need refrigeration during shipping.
  • All these things increase the price of blueberries up to the sky.

But there is a proper method for storing blueberries, so you can buy them in bulk, if available, at a discounted price.

I hope you liked the information provided in this post. If you find this post helpful, do not forget to share it with your friends.

Regards,
Moiz Atiq.