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pdfOMB No. 3117‐0016/USITC No. 20‐1‐4337; Expiration Date: 6/30/2023
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U.S. PRODUCERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
FRESH, CHILLED, OR FROZEN BLUEBERRIES
This questionnaire must be received by the Commission by November 16, 2020
See last page for filing instructions.
The information called for in this questionnaire is for use by the United States International Trade Commission in
connection with its Inv. No. 201‐TA‐77, fresh, chilled, and frozen blueberries (“blueberries”), under section 202 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2252). The information requested in the questionnaire is needed to supplement data
available to the Commission from other sources and is requested under the authority of section 202 of the Trade Act of
1974. This report is mandatory and failure to reply as directed can result in a subpoena or other order to compel the
submission of records or information in your possession (19 U.S.C. § 1333(a)).
Name of firm
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Website
Has your firm grown and/or frozen blueberries (as defined on the next page) at any time since 2015?
NO
YES (Complete all parts of the questionnaire, and return the entire questionnaire to the Commission)
Return questionnaire via the U.S. International Trade Commission Drop Box by clicking on the
following link: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/ (PIN: BLUE)
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the information herein supplied in response to this questionnaire is complete and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief and understand that the information submitted is subject to audit and verification by the Commission. By
means of this certification I also grant consent for the Commission, and its employees and contract personnel, to use the
information provided in this questionnaire and throughout this proceeding in any other import‐injury proceedings conducted by
the Commission on the same or similar merchandise.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge that information submitted in response to this request for information and throughout this
proceeding or other proceedings may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract
personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits,
reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C.
Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. I understand that all
contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements. I understand that the confidential business information that is
furnished may be transmitted to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and may be included in a
confidential version of the report that the Commission transmits to the President and USTR for use in decision‐making related to
this proceeding.
Name of Authorized Official Title of Authorized Official
Date
Phone:
Signature
Email address
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 2
PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION
Background. This proceeding was instituted in response to a request filed on September 29, 2020 by
the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”). Import relief may be imposed by the President on U.S.
imports of blueberries as a result of this investigation if the Commission makes an affirmative injury
determination and recommends to the President that he impose relief. The President may impose relief
in the form of increased duties and/or other restrictions on imports of blueberries that are the subject
of an affirmative injury determination.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to this proceeding are available at: LINK
Blueberries.—The blueberries covered by this proceeding are fresh, chilled, or frozen blueberries.
Fresh or chilled blueberries are currently imported under the following statistical reporting
numbers of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS): 0810.40.0024 (wild
blueberries, fresh or chilled); 0810.40.0026 (certified organic blueberries, fresh or chilled); and
0810.40.0029 (cultivated blueberries, including highbush, fresh or chilled).
Frozen blueberries are currently imported under HTS statistical reporting numbers
0811.90.2024 (wild blueberries, uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, frozen);
0811.90.2030 (blueberries, certified organic, cultivated (including highbush), uncooked or
cooked by steaming or boiling in water, frozen); and 0811.90.2040 (blueberries, cultivated
(including highbush), uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, NESOI, frozen).
Before July 1, 2018, frozen blueberries imported under HTS statistical reporting numbers
0811.90.2030 and 0811.90.2040 were imported under a single HTS statistical reporting number,
0811.90.2028 (blueberries, cultivated (including highbush), uncooked or cooked by steaming or
boiling in water, frozen). For purposes of this questionnaire, frozen blueberries refers to frozen
whole blueberries, and does not include frozen further processed blueberries (e.g., frozen
puree).
The HTSUS provisions are for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the
scope is dispositive.
Reporting of information.‐‐ If information is not readily available from your records in exactly the form
requested, furnish carefully prepared estimates. If your firm is completing more than one questionnaire
in connection with this proceeding (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser questionnaire), you
need not respond to duplicated questions in the questionnaires.
Confidentiality.‐‐The commercial and financial data furnished in response to this questionnaire that
reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by the Commission to the
extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not be disclosed except as may
be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. § 2252(i)). Such confidential information will not be published in a
manner that will reveal the individual operations of your firm; however, general characterizations of
numerical business proprietary information (such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential
business information only at the request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.‐‐The information submitted in this questionnaire is subject to audit and verification by the
Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep all of your files, worksheets, and
supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire response. Please also retain a copy
of the final document that you submit.
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 3
Release of information.‐‐The information provided by your firm in response to this questionnaire, as
well as any other confidential business information submitted by your firm to the Commission in
connection with this proceeding, may become subject to, and released under, the administrative
protective order provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. § 2252(i)) and section 206.17 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR § 206.17). This means that certain lawyers and
other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the information for use in connection
with this proceeding or other import‐injury proceedings conducted by the Commission on the same or
similar merchandise; those individuals would be subject to severe penalties if the information were
divulged to unauthorized individuals.
I‐1.
OMB statistics.‐‐Please report below the actual number of hours required and the cost to your
firm of completing this questionnaire.
Hours
Dollars
Public reporting burden for this questionnaire is estimated to average 50 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the
questionnaire.
We welcome comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate, suggestions for
reducing the burden, and any suggestions for improving this questionnaire. Please attach such
comments to your response or send to the Office of Investigations, USITC, 500 E St. SW,
Washington, DC 20436.
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 4
I‐2.
Establishments covered.‐‐Provide the city, state, zip code, and brief description of each
establishment covered by this questionnaire. If your firm is publicly traded, please specify the
stock exchange and trading symbol in the footnote to the table. Firms operating more than one
establishment should combine the data for all establishments into a single report.
“Establishment”‐‐Each facility of a firm involved in the production of blueberries, including
auxiliary facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such
facilities.
Description (growing,
Establishments
City, State
Zip (5 digit)
packing, and/or freezing
Covered1
operation)
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
Additional discussion on establishments consolidated in this questionnaire:
I‐3.
Position regarding the imposition of safeguard relief.‐‐Does your firm support or oppose the
imposition of safeguard relief from imports of blueberries?
Support
Oppose
Take no
position
Describe your position
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
I‐4.
Ownership.‐‐Is your firm owned, in whole or in part, by any other firm?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
I‐5.
I‐6.
Page 5
Firm name
Address
Extent of
ownership
(percent)
Related importers/exporters.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or
foreign, that are engaged in importing blueberries into the United States or that are engaged in
exporting blueberries to the United States?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Address
Affiliation
Related producers.‐‐Does your firm have any related firms, either domestic or foreign, that are
engaged in the production of blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐List the following information.
Firm name
Country
Affiliation
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 6
PART II.‐‐TRADE AND RELATED INFORMATION
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Jordan Harriman (202‐205‐
2610, [email protected]). Supply all data requested on a calendar‐year basis.
II‐1. Contact information.‐‐Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part II.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
II‐2a. Nature of blueberry operations.—Please identify the nature of your firm’s blueberry operations
per the definitions below. Please select all applicable responses.
“U.S. Grower” – Firm involved in the growing of fresh blueberries in the United States.
“U.S. Freezer” – Firm involved in the freezing of fresh blueberries in the United States (whether
or not the firm has other processing operations) of domestically grown or imported blueberries.
Check all the apply
US Grower
US Freezer
II‐2b. Cultivated and wild blueberries.‐‐Please indicate which type of blueberry accounted for the
majority of your firm’s harvest in 2019 (check one):
Cultivated
Wild
II‐2c. Organic and non‐organic blueberries.‐‐Please indicate which classification of blueberry
accounted for the majority of your firm’s harvest in 2019 (check one):
Organic
Non‐organic
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 7
II‐3a. Changes in operations.‐‐Please indicate whether your firm has experienced any of the following
changes in relation to the production of blueberries since January 1, 2015.
Check as many as appropriate.
Acreage replaced with new
bushes
Acreage taken out of
production
New acreage planted
If checked, please describe (e.g., year, number of
acres, nature of operation (growing, or growing with
packing and/or freezing), etc.); leave blank if not
applicable.
Packing operation openings
Packing operation closings
Freezing operation openings
Freezing operation closings
Weather related events
Disease or pest‐related events
Changes in labor availability or
costs
Other (e.g., technology)
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 8
II‐3b. COVID‐19 pandemic.‐‐Since January 1, 2020, has the COVID‐19 pandemic or have any
government actions taken to contain the spread of the COVID‐19 virus resulted in changes in
relation to your firm’s supply chain arrangements, production, shipments, or employment
relating to fresh, chilled or frozen blueberries?
No
Yes
If yes, describe these changes including a separate discussion of the (a)
supply chain impact, (b) production and shipment impact, and (c) the
employment impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 9
II‐4. Injury.‐‐
(a)
Have your firm's blueberries operations been injured by imports of blueberries since
January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
(b)
If yes, please describe the impact of imports of blueberries on your U.S.
blueberries operations.
Please rank the importance of each of the following factors having an adverse impact on
your firm's blueberries operations. The "rating of factor" is the importance of the factor
in causing injury to your firm on a scale of 1 through 5 (with five being an extremely
important cause of injury).
Factor
Rating of
factor
Competition from imported blueberries
Exchange rates
Competition from other U.S. producers
Developments in product features
U.S. demand for blueberries
Inability to obtain adequate financing
Inability to secure transportation,
shipping, or storage
Change in raw material costs
Labor problems or shortages
Production problems
Change in composition in U.S. industry
Change in Federal regulations for
blueberries
Environmental Factors (e.g. drought,
wildfires, temperature variation, etc.)
Limitations on growing certain
blueberry varieties
Insufficient scale to meet customer
demands
COVID‐19 pandemic
Other factors
Description
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 10
II‐5. Efforts to compete.‐‐Since 2015, has your firm undertaken or planned any efforts to compete
more effectively in the U.S. market for blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐ Please describe (1) any efforts made by your firm and/or its workers
since 2015 to compete more effectively, (2) the year in which the
effort was made, (3) the expenditure involved (in thousands of
dollars), and (4) the specific competitive advantage acquired (i.e.,
increased production, cost reduction, quality improvement, increased
market share or sales, etc.).
If you feel that any of these efforts have been made primarily to
compete with imported blueberries, please indicate and explain. To
the extent possible, furnish the Commission with memoranda,
studies, or other documentation which indicate that such efforts were
undertaken primarily to compete more effectively against imports of
blueberries.
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 11
II‐6. Efforts to compete under a safeguard.‐‐If you were to receive import relief as a result of this
safeguard investigation, would your firm and/or its workers make adjustments in your
operations producing blueberries (in addition to those that you have described above) that will
permit you to compete more effectively with imports of blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐Please describe (1) the specific adjustment actions that would be made
by your firm and/or its workers during any period of relief that will
permit you to compete more effectively with imports, (2) the
anticipated expenditure involved (in thousands of dollars), and (3) the
specific competitive advantage expected to be gained by the
adjustment (i.e., increased production, cost reduction, quality
improvement, increased market share of sales, etc.). To the best of
your ability, quantify the expected improvement in your firm's
competitiveness vis à vis imports. For each adjustment action listed,
explain how your firm plans to finance the expenditure. These
adjustment actions are in addition to those that you would take
notwithstanding any relief under section 202 and which you described
above.
Action
Description
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 12
Questions II‐7 through II‐11 apply only to firms with growing operations.
II‐7. Acreage and production: Growing operations.‐‐Please report your farm’s average acreage and
production of blueberries in each specified period. Report pounds net packed weight (i.e., with
weight of packing products removed).
“Average acreage” includes land measured in acres (use conversion of 1 hectare= 2.47105 acres
if applicable) planted with blueberry bushes or vines.
Calendar Year
January‐September
Item
2019
Average blueberry acreage.‐‐
Bearing
Non‐bearing
2020
Land use (acres)
Blueberry production.‐‐
Cultivated sold fresh/chilled
Wild sold fresh/chilled
Cultivated sold for processing
Wild sold for processing
Utilized production
Blueberries harvested, not sold
Harvest data (pounds)
Total production
II‐8.
2019
0
0
0
0
0
0
Growth cycle.‐ Indicate your firm/farm crop cycle for blueberries. Indicate which months are
fruit bearing/growing months, which months are harvesting months, and which months your
firm's final product(s) are available in the U.S. market to end use customers.
Item
Blueberries.‐‐
Flowering or fruit
bearing periods
Period of harvesting
Period of availability in
the U.S. market to end
use customers.‐‐
Fresh
Frozen
Jan
Month
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 13
II‐9. Certified organic blueberry production.—
(a)
Certified organic production in 2019.‐‐ Please report the share of your production of
blueberries in 2019 which were certified organic: percent.
(b)
Year of certification.‐‐ In what year did your farm obtain certification for the growing of
organic blueberries? .
II‐10. Product shifting.‐‐Does your farm grow/harvest other products on the same land used to grow
blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐ (i.e., have produced other products or are able to produce other products).
Please identify other actual or potential products: .
II‐11. Product shifting factors.‐‐Please describe the factors that affect your farm’s ability to shift
growing/harvesting capacity between blueberries and other products (e.g., time, cost, relative price
change, etc.), and the degree to which these factors enhance or constrain such shifts.
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 14
Question II‐12 applies only to firms with freezing operations.
II‐12. Production, capacity and inventory data: frozen blueberries.‐‐Report your firm’s overall
freezing capacity and production its U.S. establishment(s) during the specified periods for the
machinery involved in freezing blueberries.
“Average production capacity” or “capacity” – The level of production that your
establishment(s) could reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods. Assume
normal operating conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to
operate; normal operating levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime,
maintenance, repair, and cleanup; and a typical or representative product mix). Data entered
below should only relate to capacity to produce whole frozen blueberries, and not further
processing of frozen blueberries or other fruit products.
“Production” – All production in your U.S. establishment(s), including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
“IQF”— Individually quick frozen.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the trade data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding
questions on the trade data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies
of the supporting documents/records (such as production and sales schedules, inventory records,
etc.) used to compile these data.
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
II‐12. Production, capacity and inventory data: Frozen Blueberries.‐‐Continued
Page 15
IQF machinery
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar year
Item
Overall IQF capacity:
2015
1
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
2020
IQF Production:
Own grown blueberries
Other domestic‐origin
blueberries
Foreign‐origin blueberries
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Other products
Total IQF production
1
Please list these products:
Other than IQF freezing capacity (Bulk)
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar year
Item
2015
Overall other freezing capacity:
1
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
2020
Other domestic‐origin
blueberries
Foreign‐origin blueberries
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Other freezing Production:
Own grown blueberries
1
Other products
Total Bulk frozen production
1
Please list these products:
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 16
Questions II‐13 through II‐15 apply to all firms.
II‐13. Channels of distribution.‐‐Report your firm’s net sales quantities by channel of distribution un
the specified periods. Note that if your firm pays another company to freeze your firm's
blueberries for a fee, but your firm retains title to the blueberries then sells the frozen product
to a customer, report your channels of distribution based on the final sale, not the physical
shipment to the freezer.
Quantity (pounds net packed weight)
Calendar years
Item
Net sales quantities.‐‐
Fresh or chilled blueberries:
to Distributors, handlers,
marketers, or terminal
market actors
2015
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
2020
to Re‐packagers, sorters,
graders, freezers, and
processors
to Retailers
Frozen blueberries:
to Distributors, handlers,
marketers, or terminal
market actors
to Re‐packagers, sorters,
graders, freezers, and
processors
to Retailers
RECONCILIATION OF CHANNELS.‐‐Please ensure that the quantities reported for channels of distribution
(i.e., sum of lines above) in each time period equal the quantity reported for net sales quantity (i.e.,
question III‐9a) in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”),
the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar years
January‐September
Reconciliation item
Sum of II‐13 minus net sale
quantities reported in III‐9a and
III‐9b = zero ("0"), if not revise.‐‐
Quantity: Fresh
Quantity: Frozen
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2019
2020
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 17
II‐14. Monthly net sales by type.‐‐Report your firm’s net sales quantity (in pounds net packed weight)
and value by type of blueberry in the specified periods below.
Fresh or chilled
Frozen
Quantity
Quantity
(pounds net
Value
(pounds net
Value
packed weight)
(dollars)
packed weight)
(dollars)
Net sales in
2019.‐‐
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2020.‐‐
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
Calendar years
January‐September
Reconciliation item
Sum of II‐14 minus net sale quantities
reported in III‐9a and III‐9b = zero
("0"), if not revise.‐‐
Quantity: Fresh
Frozen
Value: Fresh
Frozen
2019
2019
2020
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 18
II‐15. End of period inventories.‐‐Report your firm’s end of period inventories based on the specified
product type on the specified date.
Quantity (pounds net packed weight)
Inventories as of
September 30
Inventories as of Dec 31
Item
End of period inventories.‐‐1
Fresh or chilled blueberries
Frozen blueberries
1
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Please describe any relevant trends regarding ending inventories of fresh or frozen blueberries: .
2019
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 19
II‐16a. Employment data.‐‐Report your firm’s employment‐related data related to the growing and/or
processing of blueberries and provide any explanation for any trends in these data. Please
include in your reported employment data all employment including direct, contract, seasonal
and family employment.
“Production Related Workers” (PRWs) includes working supervisors and all nonsupervisory
workers (including group leaders and trainees) engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling,
inspecting, receiving, storage, handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, trucking, hauling,
maintenance, repair, janitorial and guard services, product development, auxiliary production
for plant’s own use (e.g., power plant), recordkeeping, and other services closely associated with
the above production operations. If any PRWs (and attendant hours worked and wages paid
data) perform both growing and freezing operations, please assign them to the category in
which they performed the majority of their work in 2019.
Average number employed may be computed by adding the number of employees, both full
time and part time, for the 12 pay periods ending closest to the 15th of the month and divide
that total by 12. For the January to September periods, calculate similarly and divide by 9.
“Hours worked” includes time paid for sick leave, holidays, and vacation time. Include overtime
hours actually worked; do not convert overtime pay to its equivalent in straight time hours.
“Wages paid” –Total wages paid before deductions of any kind (e.g., withholding taxes, old‐age
and unemployment insurance, group insurance, union dues, bonds, etc.). Include wages paid
directly by your firm for overtime, holidays, vacations, and sick leave.
Calendar year
January‐September
Item
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2019
2020
1
Average number of PRWs
(number)
Growing operations
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Freezing operations
Total wages paid
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Freezing operations
Total PRWs
Hours worked by PRWs (1,000
hours):
Growing operations
Freezing operations
Total hours worked
Wages paid to PRWs ($1,000)
Growing operations
1
Please report the number of your firm’s PRWs who worked in both growing and freezing operations in 2019. As indicated above,
such PRWs should be assigned to the category of operation (i.e., growing or freezing) in which they performed the majority of their
work in 2019: .
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 20
II‐16b. Explanation of trends and labor constraints.—Please describe any trends in the above data. If
applicable, please address any challenges you have had in attracting or retaining production‐
related workers. Please discuss any efforts or strategies to mitigate these challenges and to
what extent those strategies have been successful:
II‐16c. Family employment.‐‐Do your employment data include work performed by the grower’s own
family?
No
Yes
If yes, Please explain how this is accounted for in the above employment
data.
II‐16d. Seasonal employment.‐‐Do your employment data include work performed by seasonal workers? If
yes, please describe the seasonal nature of your farm's employment and how that has impacted the
data reported in question II‐14a.
No
Yes
If yes, Please explain how this is accounted for in the above employment
data.
II‐16e. Machine harvesting.—Does your firm utilize machine harvesting of blueberries?
No
Yes
If yes, please indicate whether your firm machine harvests blueberries for
the fresh or processed markets?
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 21
II‐17. Toll production.‐‐Since 2015, has your firm been involved in a toll agreement regarding the
production of blueberries?
“Toll agreement”‐‐Agreement between two firms whereby the first firm furnishes the raw
materials (e.g., a fresh blueberry) and the second firm uses the raw materials to produce a
product (e.g., a frozen, pureed, or otherwise processed blueberry) that it then returns to the
first firm with a charge for processing costs, overhead, etc.
No
Yes
If yes‐‐ Please describe the toll arrangement(s) and name the firm(s)
involved.
II‐18. Importer.‐‐Since January 1, 2015, has your firm imported blueberries?
“Importer” – The person or firm primarily liable for the payment of any duties on the
merchandise, or an authorized agent acting on his behalf.
No
Yes
If yes‐‐ COMPLETE AND RETURN A U.S. IMPORTERS’ QUESTIONNAIRE
II‐19. Purchases.‐‐Has your firm otherwise purchased blueberries since January 1, 2015?
A purchase is a transaction to buy product from a U.S. corporate entity such as another U.S.
producer, a U.S. distributor, or a U.S. firm that has directly imported the product.
No
Yes
If yes, report such purchases below and explain the reasons for your firms'
purchases
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
II‐20. Purchases.—Continued
Quantity (in pounds)
Page 22
Calendar year
Item
2015
Purchases of foreign‐origin
(imported) blueberries:
Wild blueberries1
Fresh/chilled
Frozen
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
2020
1
Cultivated blueberries
Fresh/chilled
Frozen
Purchases of U.S.‐origin
(domestic) blueberries:
Wild blueberries2
Fresh/chilled
Frozen
Cultivated blueberries2
Fresh/chilled
Frozen
1
Please list the name of the importer(s) from which your firm purchased this product. If your firm’s import suppliers differ by
source, please identify the source for each listed supplier: .
2
Please list the name of the producer(s) or U.S. distributor(s) from which your firm purchased this product: .
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 23
II‐21. Comparability of fresh/chilled blueberries to frozen/processed blueberries.‐‐For each of the
following, indicate whether fresh/chilled blueberries and frozen/processed blueberries are:
fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them; mostly comparable or
similar; somewhat comparable or similar; never or not‐at‐all comparable or similar; or no
familiarity with products.
F: fully comparable or the same, i.e., have no differentiation between them;
M: mostly comparable or similar;
S: somewhat comparable or similar;
N: never or not‐at‐all comparable or similar; or
0: no familiarity with products.
Note.‐‐This product comparison question is being asked in multiple questionnaire types (U.S. producers';
U.S. importers'; and U.S. purchasers’ questionnaires). If your firm is completing more than one of these
questionnaire types in relation to this proceeding, please respond to the alternative product
comparisons question in only one questionnaire type. In general, your firm should make these
comparisons in the questionnaire type that is most relevant to your firm's role in the market.
(a) Physical properties.‐‐The differences and similarities in the physical properties.
Product‐pair
Fresh/chilled blueberries vs
frozen/processed blueberries
Comparison
Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
physical properties:
(b) Manufacturing process.—Comparability of where and how the products are made
(e.g., in a separate facility, using certain machines, and labor skills).
Product‐pair
Fresh/chilled blueberries vs
frozen/processed blueberries
Comparison
Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
manufacturing process:
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Page 24
II‐21. Comparability of fresh/chilled blueberries to frozen/processed blueberries.‐‐ Continued
(c) Uses.‐‐Comparability on the products’ uses.
Product‐pair
Fresh/chilled blueberries vs
frozen/processed blueberries
Comparison
Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
uses:
(d) Channels of distribution.—Comparability of the marketing channels through which the
products are sold.
Product‐pair
Fresh/chilled blueberries vs
frozen/processed blueberries
Comparison
Please provide a narrative discussion for the
comparability ratings you provided in terms of their
marketing channels:
II‐22. Other explanations:‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part II
that did not provide a narrative box, please note the question number and the explanation in the space
provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your firm had in providing the data in
this section, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word questionnaire.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 25
PART III.‐‐FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Address questions on this part of the questionnaire to Jennifer Brinckhaus (202‐205‐3188,
[email protected]).
III‐1. Contact information.‐‐Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part III.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
III‐2. Accounting system.‐‐Briefly describe your firm’s financial accounting system.
A.1. When does your firm’s fiscal year end (month and day)?
2. If your firm’s fiscal year changed during the data‐collection period, explain below:
B.1. Describe the lowest level of operations (e.g., farm, plant, division, company‐wide) for
which financial statements are prepared that include blueberries:
2. Does your firm prepare profit/loss statements for blueberries:
Yes
No
3. How often did your firm (or parent company) prepare financial statements (including
annual reports, 10Ks)? Please check relevant items below.
Audited, unaudited, annual reports, 10Ks, 10 Qs,
Monthly, quarterly, semi‐annually, annually
4.
Accounting basis: GAAP, cash, tax, or other comprehensive basis of
accounting (specify)
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records
used in the preparation of the financial data, as Commission staff may contact your firm
regarding questions on the financial data. The Commission may also request that your company
submit copies of the supporting documents/records (financial statements, including internal
profit‐and‐loss statements for the division or product group that includes blueberries, as well as
specific statements and worksheets) used to compile these data.
Note.—Financial data in this section are being collected on a calendar‐year basis.
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III‐3. Cost accounting system.‐‐Briefly describe your firm’s cost accounting system (e.g., standard
cost, job order cost, etc.).
III‐4.
Allocation basis.‐‐Briefly describe your firm’s allocation basis, if any, for COGS, SG&A, and
interest expense and other income and expenses.
III‐5a. Product listing.—(GROWING OPERATIONS) Please list any other primary products grown on
your farm and provide the share of net sales accounted for by each of these products in 2019.
Share of sales
Products
in 2019
Blueberries
%
Berries, other than blueberries
%
Fruit, other than berries
%
%
%
III‐5b. Product listing.—(FREEZING OPERATIONS) Please list any other products your firm produces in
the facilities in which it freezes blueberries, and provide the share of net sales accounted for by
each of these products in 2019.
Share of sales
Products
in 2019
Blueberries
%
Berries, other than blueberries
%
Fruit, other than berries
%
%
%
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
III‐7. Cooperative members.‐‐Is your firm a member of a cooperative?
III‐8.
Yes
No
Page 27
If yes, please indicate which cooperative in the space below.
Marketing firm.—Does your firm utilize a marketer that acts as a broker to sell your fresh
and/or frozen blueberries?
Yes
No
If yes, please indicate the name of the marketing firm in the space below.
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III‐9a. Operations on sales of FRESH blueberries.‐‐Report the revenue and cost information requested
below on the growing operations of your firm’s U.S. establishment(s) for blueberries that are
sold in the fresh market.1 Do not report resales of products, financial data for other products
grown on the same land, or financial data for blueberries that are sold frozen. Fresh blueberries
that are not frozen, but are further processed by your firm (e.g., purees, juice, dried) should be
included and reported at the fair market value of the fresh blueberry prior to the further
processing. Note – if your firm has sales of fresh and frozen blueberries, please allocate shared
costs (such as growing costs, packing costs, interest expense, etc.) between this table (FRESH)
and table III‐9b (FROZEN) as a percentage of the relative net sales quantities. Reasonable
estimates are fine.
Quantity (pounds net packed weight) and value (in dollars)
Calendar year
Item
Proceeds from deliveries/sales:
Quantity
2015
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
2020
Chemicals
Fertilizers and lime
All other growing materials
Value
Growing expenses:
Plants, field prep, irrigation, and bush
protection
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Labor hired (less employment credits)
Subtotal of growing materials
All other cultivation costs
Labor hired for packing
Packing paid to third parties
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
All other expenses
Other income (e.g., government
assistance, insurance proceeds, etc.)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Packing expenses:
Packing materials
Total growing and packing expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other expenses and income:
Interest expense: Mortgage and other
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
1
Include only sales (whether domestic or export) and costs related to your U.S. growing and packing operations related to sales of
fresh blueberries.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 29
III‐9b. Operations on sales of FROZEN blueberries.‐‐Report the revenue and cost information
requested below on the growing/packing/freezing operations of your U.S. establishments for
blueberries that are sold frozen.1 Do not report financial data for other products grown on the
same land, or financial data for blueberries that are sold in the fresh market. Frozen blueberries
that are further processed by your firm (e.g., purees, juice, dried) should be included and
reported at the fair market value of the frozen blueberry prior to the further processing. Note –
if your firm has sales of fresh and frozen blueberries, please allocate shared costs (such as
growing costs, packing costs, interest expense, etc.) between this table (FRESH) and table III‐9b
(FROZEN) as a percentage of the relative net sales quantities. Reasonable estimates are fine.
Quantity (pounds net packed weight) and value (in dollars)
Calendar year
Item
2015
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
2020
Proceeds of deliveries/sales (Net sales):
Quantity
Value
Growing expenses:
Plants, field prep, irrigation, and bush
protection
Chemicals
Fertilizers and lime
All other growing materials
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Labor hired (less employment credits)
All other cultivation costs
Labor hired for packing
Packing costs paid to third parties
Labor hired for freezing
Freezing costs paid to third parties
All other freezing costs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
All other expenses
All other income (e.g., government
assistance, insurance proceeds, etc.)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Subtotal of growing materials
Packing expenses:
Packing materials
Freezing expenses:
Raw materials
Total growing/packing/freezing
expenses
Operating income (loss)
Other expenses and income:
Interest expense: Mortgage and other
Net income or (loss) before income taxes
1
Include only sales (whether domestic or export) and costs related to your U.S. growing, packing, or freezing operations related to
sales of frozen blueberries.
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III‐9c. Financial data reconciliation.‐‐The calculable line items from questions III‐9a and III‐9b (i.e.,
subtotal of growing materials, total growing/packing expenses (III‐9a), total
growing/packing/freezing expenses (III‐9b), operating income, and net income (or loss)) have
been calculated from the data submitted in the other line items. Do the calculated fields return
the correct data according to your firm's financial records ignoring non‐material differences that
may arise due to rounding?
Yes
No
If no, If the calculated fields do not show the correct data, please double check
the feeder data for data entry errors and revise. If after reviewing and
potentially revising the feeder data your firm has provided, the differences
between your records and the calculated fields persist, please identify and
discuss the differences in the space below.
III‐9d. Internal consumption.—Since January 1, 2015, has your firm had sales of blueberries that were
further processed other than being frozen (e.g., blueberry purees, blueberry juice, dried
blueberries, etc.)?
No
Yes
If yes, indicate the share of your firm’s net sales quantity of fresh or frozen blueberries that
were sold as a further processed product in 2019. Blueberries that were not frozen prior to any
further processing, should be reported as “Further processed‐fresh.” Blueberries that were
frozen prior to being processed further, should be reported as “Further processed‐frozen.”
Share of 2019 sales
Item
quantity
Internal consumption:
Further processed—fresh
Further processed—frozen
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
%
%
0.0
%
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
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III‐9e. Proceeds from packing and freezing.—Does your firm provide packing or freezing services to
other growers or market participants using the same workers and/or equipment your firm uses
to pack or freeze your own grown blueberries?
No or not applicable
Yes
If yes, please report the net proceeds (packing or
freezing revenue less associated costs) by the relevant
product, below.
Value (in dollars)
Calendar year
2015
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
Net proceeds from packing
or freezing services:
Blueberries
Products other than
blueberries
III‐9f. Type of blueberries sold.‐‐Please report your firm’s net sales quantity of blueberries, by type
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar year
Item
Net sales quantities:
Cultivated blueberries:
Fresh
Frozen
Wild blueberries:
Fresh
Frozen
2019
January‐September
2019
2020
RECONCILIATION OF TYPES OF BLUEBERRIES SOLD.‐‐ Please ensure that the total quantities reported for
types of blueberries sold (i.e., cultivated and wild) in each time period equal the total reported net sales
quantity in table III‐9a in each time period. If the calculated fields below return values other than zero
(i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to the Commission.
Calendar year
January‐September
Item
Total quantities reported in III‐9f –
total net sales quantity reported in
III‐9a = zero ("0"), if not revise.
2020
2019
2019
0
2020
0
0
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 32
III‐9g. Certification of blueberries sold.—Please report your firm’s net sales quantity of blueberries, by
level of certification.
Quantity (in pounds)
Calendar year
Item
January‐September
2019
Net sales quantities:
Certified organic blueberries:
Fresh
2019
Frozen
Not certified organic blueberries:
Fresh
2020
Frozen
RECONCILIATION OF CERTIFICATION OF BLUEBERRIES SOLD.‐‐ Please ensure that the total quantities
reported for types of blueberries sold (i.e., certified organic and not certified organic) in each time period
equal the total reported net sales quantity in table III‐9a in each time period. If the calculated fields
below return values other than zero (i.e., “0”), the data reported must be revised prior to submission to
the Commission.
Calendar year
January‐September
Item
Total quantities reported in III‐9g –
total net sales quantity reported in
III‐9a = zero ("0"), if not revise.
2019
2019
0
2020
0
0
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 33
III‐10. Nonrecurring items (charges and gains) included in the subject product financial results.—Are
there any significant (material) nonrecurring charges or gains that are included in the financial
results for fresh blueberries (III‐9a) or frozen blueberries (III‐9b)?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe these charges/gains (including the amount and year) and
indicate in which line item(s) they appear in III‐9a and/or III‐9b.
III‐11a. Asset values.‐‐Report the total assets (i.e., both current and long‐term assets) associated with
the growing, harvesting, packing, freezing, warehousing, and sale of blueberries. If your firm
does not maintain the specific asset information necessary to calculate total assets for
blueberries in the normal course of business, please estimate this information based upon a
method (such as production, sales, or costs) that is consistent with relevant cost allocations in
tables III‐9a and/or III‐9b.
Note: Total assets should be reported on a net basis (i.e., after deductions for accumulated
depreciation and allowances). Total assets should be allocated to blueberries if these assets are
also related to other products.
Value (in dollars)
Calendar year
Item
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Assets – Growing operations
Assets – Packing operations
Assets – Freezing operations
0
0
0
0
0
Total assets (net)
III‐11b. Description of asset values.– Please describe the main asset categories (both current and long‐
term assets) in the above response. Provide a brief explanation if there are any substantial
changes in total asset value during the period; e.g., due to asset write‐offs, revaluation, and
major purchases.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
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III‐12a. Capital expenditures and research and development (“R&D”) expenses.‐‐Report your firm’s
capital expenditures and R&D expenses for blueberries.
Value (in dollars)
Calendar years
Item
2015
Capital expenditures –
Growing operations
2016
2017
January‐September
2018
2019
2019
2020
Packing operations
Freezing operations
R&D expenses –
Growing operations
Freezing operations
III‐12b. Description of reported capital expenditures.—Please describe the nature, focus, and
significance of your firm’s reported capital expenditures. If no capital expenditures were
reported, please explain the reason.
Packing operations
III‐12c. Description of reported R&D expenses.—Please describe the nature, focus, and significance of
your firm’s reported R&D expenses. In addition, please specify whether your firm has invested
in or developed varieties of blueberries utilizing genetics since January 1, 2015, and if so,
specify the periods in which this took place.
III‐12d. Role of genetics in product development.—Has your firm invested in or developed varieties of
blueberries utilizing genetics January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe your firm’s research and development efforts using
genetics, specify whether your firm grew blueberries for sale in the United
States as a result, and indicate the relevant periods in which this occurred.
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III‐13. Effects of imports on investment (FRESH blueberries).‐‐Since January 1, 2015, has your firm
experienced any actual negative effects on its return on investment, the scale of capital
investments, and research and development levels as a result of imports of fresh blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐My firm has experienced actual negative effects as follows:
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
Cancellation, postponement,
or rejection of expansion
projects
Denial or rejection of
investment proposal
Reduction in the size of
capital investments
Return on specific
investments negatively
impacted
Ability to generate adequate
capital to finance the
modernization of domestic
plants and equipment
Ability to maintain existing
levels of expenditures for
research and development
Other
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
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III‐14. Effects of imports on growth and development (FRESH blueberries).‐‐Since January 1, 2015,
has your firm experienced any actual negative effects on its growth, ability to raise capital, or
existing development and production efforts (including efforts to develop a derivative or more
advanced version of the product) as a result of imports of fresh blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐My firm has experienced actual negative effects as follows:
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
Rejection of bank loans
Lowering of credit rating
Problem related to the issue
of stocks or bonds
Ability to service debt
Other
III‐15. Anticipated effects of imports (FRESH blueberries).‐‐Does your firm anticipate any negative
effects due to imports of fresh blueberries?
No
Yes
If yes, my firm anticipates negative effects as follows:
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
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III‐16. Effects of imports on investment (FROZEN blueberries).‐‐Since January 1, 2015, has your firm
experienced any actual negative effects on its return on investment, the scale of capital
investments, and research and development levels as a result of imports of frozen blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐My firm has experienced actual negative effects as follows:
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
Cancellation, postponement,
or rejection of expansion
projects
Denial or rejection of
investment proposal
Reduction in the size of
capital investments
Return on specific
investments negatively
impacted
Ability to generate adequate
capital to finance the
modernization of domestic
plants and equipment
Ability to maintain existing
levels of expenditures for
research and development
Other
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 38
III‐17. Effects of imports on growth and development (FROZEN blueberries).‐‐Since January 1, 2015,
has your firm experienced any actual negative effects on its growth, ability to raise capital, or
existing development and production efforts (including efforts to develop a derivative or more
advanced version of the product) as a result of imports of frozen blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐My firm has experienced actual negative effects as follows:
(check as many as appropriate)
(please describe)
Rejection of bank loans
Lowering of credit rating
Problem related to the issue
of stocks or bonds
Ability to service debt
Other
III‐18. Anticipated effects of imports (FROZEN blueberries).‐‐Does your firm anticipate any negative
effects due to imports of frozen blueberries?
No
Yes
If yes, my firm anticipates negative effects as follows:
III‐19. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part III
that did not provide a narrative box, please note the question number and the explanation in
the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your firm had in
providing the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word
questionnaire.
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 39
PART IV.‐‐PRICING AND MARKET FACTORS
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Kyle Westmoreland (202‐
205‐2184, [email protected]).
IV‐1. Contact information.‐‐Please identify the responsible individual and the manner by which
Commission staff may contact that individual regarding the confidential information submitted
in part IV.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
Note.—Unless the questions in Part IV below specifically break out types of blueberries, please
explain if your answers differ for fresh and frozen, or wild and cultivated, or organic and non‐organic
blueberries.
IV‐2. Price setting.‐‐How does your firm determine the prices that it charges for sales of blueberries
(check all that apply)? If your firm issues price lists, please submit sample pages of a recent list.
Transaction
by
transaction
Contracts
IV‐3.
Other
If other, describe
Discount policy.‐‐Please indicate and describe your firm’s discount policies (check all that apply).
Quantity
discounts
IV‐4.
Set
price
lists
Annual
total
volume
discounts
No
discount
policy
Other
Describe
Pricing terms.‐‐On what basis are your firm’s prices of domestic blueberries usually quoted
(check one)?
Delivered
F.o.b.
If f.o.b., specify point
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IV‐5. Contract versus spot.—
a. Approximately what share of your firm’s sales of its U.S.‐produced blueberries in 2019 was on a
(1) long‐term contract basis, (2) annual contract basis, (3) short‐term contract basis, and (4) spot
sales basis?
Type of sale
Short‐term
Long‐term
Annual
Total
contracts
contracts
Spot sales
contracts
(should
(multiple
(multiple
(for a single
(multiple
sum to
deliveries for
deliveries for
delivery)
deliveries for 12
100.0%)
less than 12
more than 12
months)
months)
months)
Share of 2019
%
%
%
% 0.0 %
sales
b. Provide any volume commitments with retailers in 2019.
IV‐6.
Contract provisions.‐‐Please fill out the table regarding your firm’s typical sales contracts for
U.S.‐produced blueberries (or check “not applicable” if your firm does not sell on a short‐term,
annual and/or long‐term contract basis).
Typical sales
contract
provisions
Item
Short‐term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for less
than 12 months)
Average contract
duration
No. of
days
Program sales
(volume‐
based
agreement)
365
No
Quantity
Price
Both
Fixed quantity
and/or price
Not applicable
Long‐term
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
more than 12
months)
Yes
Market price
Annual
contracts
(multiple
deliveries for
12 months)
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 41
IV‐7. Lead times.‐‐What is your firm’s share of sales from inventory and produced to order and what
is the typical lead time between a customer’s order and the date of delivery for your firm’s sales
of its U.S.‐produced blueberries?
Fresh/chilled
Lead time (average number
Source
Share of 2019 sales
of days)
From fresh and chilled inventory
%
Shipped directly from harvest
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
Frozen
Lead time (average number
Source
Share of 2019 sales
of days)
From inventory
%
Shipped directly from freezing
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
IV‐8. Shipping information.‐‐
(a)
Who generally arranges the transportation to your firm’s customers’ locations?
Your firm Purchaser (check one)
(b)
Indicate the approximate percentage of your firm’s sales of blueberries that are
delivered the following distances from your firm’s production facility.
Distance from production facility
Share
Within 100 miles
%
101 to 1,000 miles
%
Over 1,000 miles
%
Total (should sum to 100.0%)
0.0 %
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IV‐9. Geographical shipments.‐‐ In which U.S. geographic market area(s) has your firm sold its U.S.‐
produced blueberries since January 1, 2015 (check all that apply)?
Geographic area
Fresh
Frozen
Northeast.–CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
Midwest.–IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, and
WI.
Southeast.–AL, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA,
and WV.
Central Southwest.–AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Mountains.–AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Pacific Coast.–CA, OR, and WA.
Other.–All other markets in the United States not previously
listed, including AK, HI, PR, and VI.
IV‐10. Inland transportation costs.—What is the approximate percentage of the cost of U.S.‐produced
blueberries that is accounted for by U.S. inland transportation costs? percent
IV‐11. Substitutes.‐‐Can other products be substituted for blueberries?
No
Yes‐‐Please fill out the table.
Substitute
End use in which this
substitute is used
Have changes in the price of this substitute
affected the price for blueberries?
No Yes
1.
2.
3.
Explanation
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
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IV‐12. Availability of supply.
(a) Fresh/chilled.—Has the availability of fresh/chilled blueberries in the U.S. market changed since
January 1, 2015?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
Changes since January 1, 2015:
U.S.‐produced product—
Cultivated
Wild
Cultivated
Wild
Cultivated
Wild
Cultivated
Wild
Imports from other
countries—
Anticipated changes:
U.S.‐produced product—
Imports from other
countries—
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 44
(b) Frozen.‐‐Has the availability of frozen blueberrries in the U.S. market changed since January 1,
2015?
Availability in the U.S.
Please explain, noting the countries and reasons for the
market
No Yes changes.
Changes since January 1, 2015:
U.S.‐produced product—
Cultivated
Wild
Cultivated
Wild
Cultivated
Wild
Cultivated
Wild
Imports from other
countries‐‐
Anticipated changes:
U.S.‐produced product—
Imports from other
countries—
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U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
Page 45
IV‐13. Demand trends.‐‐Indicate how demand within the United States and outside of the United
States (if known) for blueberries has changed since January 1, 2015. Explain any trends and
describe the principal factors that have affected.
Fluctuate
with no
Overall
No
Overall
increase change decrease clear trend
Market
Explanation and factors
Demand since January 1, 2015
Within the United States
Fresh—
Cultivated
Wild
Frozen—
Cultivated
Wild
Overall
Outside the United States
Fresh—
Cultivated
Wild
Frozen—
Cultivated
Wild
Overall
IV‐14. Product changes.‐‐Have there been any significant changes in the product range, product mix,
or marketing of blueberries since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, please describe and quantify if possible.
Confidential Business Information
U.S. Producers’ Questionnaire ‐ Blueberries
IV‐15. Conditions of competition.‐‐
(a)
Is the blueberries market subject to seasonality, business cycles, and/or other
conditions of competition distinctive to blueberries? If yes, please describe.
Check all that apply.
(b)
Page 46
Please describe.
No
Skip to question IV‐16.
Yes‐Seasonality (e.g.
weather and timing of
harvests)
Yes‐Business cycles of the
general economy
Yes‐Other distinctive
conditions of competition
Yes‐Preference for organic
products
If yes, have there been any changes in the seasonality, business cycles, or conditions of
competition for blueberries since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, describe.
IV‐16. Impact of weather on blueberry production.‐‐
(a) Drought impact.‐‐Did drought conditions and/or wildfires impact your firm's blueberry
operations or the general market conditions for blueberries any time since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, describe
(b) Storm impact.‐‐Did any hurricane and/or other large rain‐related natural disasters impact your
firm's blueberry operations or the general market conditions for blueberries any time since
January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, describe
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(c) Freeze impact.‐‐Did any weather‐related freeze impact your firm’s blueberry operations or the
general market conditions for blueberries any time since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, describe
IV‐17. Supply constraints.‐‐Has your firm refused, declined, or been unable to supply blueberries since
January 1, 2015 (examples include placing customers on allocation or “controlled order entry,”
declining to accept new customers or renew existing customers, delivering less than the
quantity promised, been unable to meet timely shipment commitments, reduced availability
because of seasonality, etc.)?
Item
No
Yes
If yes, please describe.
Cultivated
Wild
Cultivated
Wild
Fresh/chilled—
Frozen—
IV‐18. Raw materials.‐‐How have blueberries raw material prices changed since January 1, 2015?
Overall
Raw Materials increase
No
change
Fluctuate
with no
clear
Overall
decrease trend
Explain, noting how raw material price
changes have affected your firm’s selling
prices for blueberries.
Seeds/plants
Fertilizer
Pesticides and
herbicides
Costs of
packing
materials
All other raw
material costs
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IV‐19. Organic vs. non‐organic blueberry variety.
(a) Has there been an increase in customer awareness of organic vs non‐organic growing
methods and/or any shift in customer preference relating to organic vs non‐organic
products since January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, please explain.
(b) Have organic raw material supplies impacted the market or your firm’s operations since
January 1, 2015?
No
Yes
If yes, please explain.
IV‐20. Interchangeability.‐‐ Are blueberries produced in the United States and in other countries
interchangeable (i.e., can they physically be used in the same applications)?
Type
No
Yes
If no, please explain.
Fresh
Frozen
IV‐21. Factors other than price.‐‐ Are differences other than price (e.g., quality, availability,
transportation network, product range, technical support, etc.) between blueberries produced
in the United States and in other countries a significant factor in your firm’s sales of the
products?
Type
No
Yes
If yes, please explain.
Fresh
Frozen
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IV‐22. Competition from imports.‐‐
(a)
Lost revenue.‐‐Since January 1, 2015: To avoid losing sales to competitors selling
imported blueberries, did your firm:
Item
No
Yes
(b)
Reduce prices. If “Yes,” please indicate
the timing of price reduction below
Prior to season
Season beginning
During season
Season end
Roll back announced price increases
Lost sales.‐‐Since January 1, 2015: Did your firm lose sales of blueberries to imports of
this product?
(c)
No
Yes
If you checked a “yes” box above in IV‐22 (a) or (b), please estimate the total amount of
sales and/or revenue lost, and when:
Lost sales:
Lost revenue:
(d)
If you checked “no” in all the boxes in IV‐22 (a) and (b), and your firm’s U.S. commercial
shipments have decreased over 2015‐2019, please explain why:
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IV‐23. Other explanations.‐‐If your firm would like to further explain a response to a question in Part
IV that did not provide a narrative response box, please note the question number and the explanation
in the space provided below. Please also use this space to highlight any issues your firm had in providing
the data in this section, including but not limited to technical issues with the MS Word questionnaire.
IV‐24. Customer identification.‐‐List the names and contact information for your firm’s 5 largest U.S.
customers for each of fresh/chilled and frozen blueberries since January 1, 2015. Indicate the
share of the quantity of your firm’s total shipments of blueberries that each of these customers
accounted for in 2019.
Customer’s name
Contact person
Email
Telephone
City
State
Share of
2019
sales (%)
Fresh/chilled
1
2
3
4
5
Frozen
1
2
3
4
5
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PART V.--PRICING OF FROZEN BLUEBERRIES
Further information on this part of the questionnaire can be obtained from Kyle Westmoreland (202‐
205‐2184, [email protected]).
V‐1. Contact information.‐‐Please identify the individual that Commission staff may contact
regarding the confidential information submitted in Part V.
Name
Title
Email
Telephone
FROZEN BLUEBERRY PRICE DATA
V‐2. This question requests quarterly quantity and value data for your firm’s commercial shipments
to unrelated U.S. customers since January 1, 2015 of the following products produced by your
firm.
Product 1.‐‐ Individual quick frozen (IQF), cultivated, Grade A, certified organic, sold in 30 pound
boxes
Product 2.‐‐ Individual quick frozen (IQF), cultivated, Grade A, non‐organic, sold in 30 pound
boxes
Product 3.‐‐ Individual quick frozen (IQF), wild, Grade A, certified organic, sold in 30 pound
boxes
Product 4.‐‐ Individual quick frozen (IQF), wild, Grade A, non‐organic, sold in 30 pound boxes
Note: Grade A is defined by the U.S. standards for grades of frozen blueberries to be the quality of
frozen blueberries that possess similar varietal characteristics; that are practically free from defects; that
possess a good character, normal flavor and odor; and are of such quality with respect to color as to
score not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with USDA’s U.S. standards.
Please note that values should be f.o.b., U.S. point of shipment and should not include U.S.‐inland
transportation costs. Values should reflect the final net amount paid to your firm (i.e., should be net
of all deductions for discounts or rebates).
V‐2a. During January 2015‐September 2020, did your firm produce and sell to unrelated U.S. customers
any of the above listed products (or any products that were competitive with these products)?
Yes.‐‐Please complete the following pricing data table as appropriate.
No.‐‐Skip to the end of the questionnaire.
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V‐2b. Price data.‐‐Report below the quarterly price data1 for pricing products2 produced and sold by
your firm.
Report data in pounds and actual dollars (not 1,000s).
(Quantity in pounds, value in dollars)
Product 1
Product 2
Product 3
Product 4
Period of shipment Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
2015:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2016:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2017:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐
December
2018:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2019:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
October‐December
2020:
January‐March
April‐June
July‐September
1 Net values (i.e., gross sales values less all discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods), f.o.b. your
firm’s U.S. point of shipment. Please subtract any discounts, rebates, and returns from the quarter in which the sale occurred.
2 Pricing product definitions are provided on the first page of Part V.
Note.‐‐If your firm’s product does not exactly meet the product specifications but is competitive with the specified product, provide a description
of your firm’s product. Also, please explain any anomalies in your firm’s reported pricing data.
Product 1:
Product 2:
Product 3:
Product 4:
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V‐2c. Price data checklist.‐‐Please check that the pricing data in question V‐2(b) has been correctly
reported.
Are the price data reported above:
√ if Yes
In actual dollars (not $1,000) and pounds?
F.o.b. U.S. point of shipment (i.e., does not include U.S. transport costs)?
Net of all discounts and rebates?
Have discounts, rebates, and returns been credited to the quarter in which the
sale occurred?
Quantities do not exceed commercial shipments in question II‐12 in each year?
Explanation(s) for any boxes not checked:
V‐2d. Pricing data methodology.‐‐Please describe the method and the kinds of documents/records
that were used to compile your price data.
Note: As requested in Part I of this questionnaire, please keep all supporting documents/records used in
the preparation of the price data, as Commission staff may contact your firm regarding questions on the
price data. The Commission may also request that your company submit copies of the supporting
documents/records (such as sales journal, invoices, etc.) used to compile these data.
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HOW TO FILE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSE
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at: LINK
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire
document. Please submit the completed questionnaire using one of the methods noted
below. If your firm is unable to complete the MS Word questionnaire or cannot use one
of the electronic methods of submission, please contact the Commission for further
instructions.
• Upload via Secure Drop Box.—Upload the MS Word questionnaire along with a scanned copy of the
signed certification page (page 1) through the Commission’s secure upload facility:
Web address: https://dropbox.usitc.gov/oinv/
Pin: BLUE
• E‐mail.—E‐mail the MS Word questionnaire to [email protected]; include a scanned copy of
the signed certification page (page 1). Submitters are strongly encouraged to encrypt nonpublic
documents that are electronically transmitted to the Commission to protect your sensitive information
from unauthorized disclosure. The USITC secure drop‐box system and the Electronic Document
Information System (EDIS) use Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140‐2 cryptographic
algorithms to encrypt data in transit. Submitting your nonpublic documents by a means that does not
use these encryption algorithms (such as by email) may subject your firm’s nonpublic information to
unauthorized disclosure during transmission. If you choose a non‐encrypted method of electronic
transmission, the Commission warns you that the risk of such possible unauthorized disclosure is
assumed by you and not by the Commission.
If your firm does not produce this product, please fill out page 1, print, sign, and submit a scanned copy
to the Commission.
Parties to this proceeding.—If your firm is a party to this proceeding, it is required to serve a copy of the
completed questionnaire on parties to the proceeding that are subject to administrative protective
order (see 19 CFR § 206.17). A list of such parties may be obtained from the Commission’s Secretary
(202‐205‐1803). A certificate of service must accompany the completed questionnaire you submit (see
19 CFR § 206.17). Service of the questionnaire must be made in paper form.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - US producer--Blueberries (201) |
| Author | jordan.harriman |
| File Modified | 2020-10-14 |
| File Created | 2020-10-14 |