The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced July 28 that fresh blueberries grown in British Columbia are now authorized for export to the Philippines. The United States has held sole official access to that market since 2020.
Key Facts
- Fresh British Columbia blueberries can now be exported to the Philippines.
- The US has held sole official access to the Philippines' fresh blueberry market since 2020.
- BC's 2026 blueberry crop may fall as much as 15% below last year's 176 million pounds.
The approval comes one year after Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald completed a trade mission to the Philippines and other Indo-Pacific markets in 2025.
The CFIA reported that the new access follows bilateral technical work with the Philippine government. Together, the two sides set export requirements the British Columbia blueberry industry can meet.
CFIA Sets Registration and Certification Requirements
To export fresh blueberries to the Philippines, growers and packing facilities must register with the CFIA and hold a valid Phytosanitary Certificate. Exporters must also meet the Philippines' plant health requirements.
The CFIA inspects the fruit before export, confirming it is free of soil and pests and packed in new or clean containers.
Pilot Program Starts in 2026, Full Access in 2027
A pilot program begins in 2026. It starts with a single previously identified production field and packing house, per the CFIA. Full implementation is expected in 2027, when every British Columbia production field and packing house becomes eligible to register.
The pilot begins in a down year for BC growers. FreshFruitPortal reported the 2026 crop is projected at 130 million to 150 million pounds. That is as much as 15% below the 176 million pounds BC growers produced in 2025. The outlet cited weather disruption and low pollination behind the decline.
Canada Enters a Market the US Has Held Alone Since 2020
The United States has been the only country with official access to sell fresh blueberries in the Philippines. It has held that status since 2020, per US Department of Agriculture reporting. Canada's approval gives Philippine buyers a second qualified supplier for the first time.
Canada's blueberry trade is heavily concentrated today. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reported the US bought $357.8 million of Canada's $382.2 million in highbush blueberry exports in 2024, or 93.6% of the total. Japan was a distant second at $17.4 million, with every other destination combined worth less than $8 million.
"New market access to the Philippines is a significant win for British Columbia's growers," said Sudeshna Nambiar, Executive Director of the British Columbia Blueberry Council.
She said the approval reflects the strength of Canada's food safety and plant health systems and opens BC producers to one of Asia's fastest-growing consumer markets.
