Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand May/June 2019 | Page 32

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FACTS
Blueberry Demand Surging Due to ‘Superfood’ Status
It’s an antioxidant, a superfood, and now, blueberries are the top choice among berry
consumers. A study by the California-based US Highbush Blueberry Council shows blueberry
consumption in the US on a per capita basis grew 600 per cent between 1994 and 2014.
Dollar sales of blueberries across grocery stores (including fresh and dried blueberries) hit
$1.3 billion in the latest 52 weeks (ending Dec. 29, 2018), according to the latest
data from New York-based Nielsen on total US food stores. Fresh
blueberry dollar sales are up 8.8 per cent and unit sales are up
2.8 per cent from the previous year, says Sarah Schmansky,
vice-president of Nielsen’s growth and strategy fresh/
health and wellness team. It also should be noted fresh
blueberry dollar sales have increased each year since
January 2016. While they’re not the easiest berry to grow,
blueberries can successfully be cultivated hydroponically.
— freshplaza.com
White Widow: Arguably the Best-Selling Cannabis Strain
While it’s hard to empirically nail down the best selling or most popular
cannabis strain, White Widow comes out at the top of many lists. It’s a
worldwide top seller that’s known for its potency. The mostly indica-
dominant (60 per cent indica/40 per cent sativa) hybrid first produced by
Dutch veterans Green House Seeds and made public in 1994 is a cross
between Brazilian sativa and South Indian indica landraces. It usually
boasts THC levels in the 20-26 per cent range and is a former winner of
the prestigious Cannabis Cup. Another reason for White Widow’s global
popularity is how resin-rich it is and rightly so, as it was bred to be a resin
producer. White Widow’s genetics have been used to influence many
other popular strains including White Rhino, White Russian, and Blue
Widow. It’s easy to spot with its frosty white, bright trichomes. 
— marijuanabreak.com
Agriculture Ministers to Promote Field Digitalisation
In order to help ensure continued global food supply, the ministers
of agriculture from 74 nations pledged to promote digitalisation of
the field as part of a common strategy for sustainable agricultural
development. Given the world’s population has doubled in the
past 50 years, using technology in the field should contribute to
increased agricultural production, particularly in rural areas where
more efficient development is required to help boost production. The
ministers were in Berlin for the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture
(GFFA). “The Government of Spain is fully aware of the importance of
promoting digitalization in the rural world, advancing competitiveness
and sustainability, as well as overcoming the digital divide between
rural and urban areas,” says Spain's Minister of Agriculture Luis Planas.
The goal is for broadband internet to reach 90 per cent of the
population in the next two years, particularly in rural areas.
— freshplaza.com
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