What’s really on your Blueberries? Why how your fruit is grown matters.
Recent investigations and reporting into the food Australians buy have prompted plenty of questions about what happens before fresh fruit reaches the supermarket shelf. For the lovers of blueberries these questions are particularly relevant, read on to find out more.
Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tests 40-50 products for pesticides and publish guides for shopper’s which show the worst and the best performing produce for pesticides residue. Their ‘Dirty Dozen’ list consists of twelve products that showed the highest pesticide residues. Blueberries came in at number twelve on the Dirty Dozen list of 2026. While the EWG conduct tests on USA produce, it does highlight the fact that to control pests and weeds, Australian agricultural industry also uses chemicals on our fresh produce – which can end up as residue on our commercially grown fruit.
Recent Australian testing reported by the ABC found multiple pesticide residues in samples of blueberries and raspberries purchased from supermarkets and farms in New South Wales. Most of the chemicals detected were within Australia’s permitted residue limits, but alarmingly, the testing also detected Thiometon in some berry samples – an insecticide that has been banned for use in Australia since 2001.
The findings do not mean that conventionally grown berries are unsafe to eat. Australia has regulations governing agricultural chemicals and maximum residue limits designed to protect consumers. But the controversy has highlighted an important question for shoppers: How was my fruit grown and treated before it hit the supermarket shelf?
For consumers who want to minimise their exposure to agricultural chemicals, knowing how their food is produced can make a real difference. The recent discussion around pesticide residues is a useful reminder that there is more to choosing fresh produce than how it looks on the supermarket shelf. Consumers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from, how it is produced and what farming practices are used along the way.
One way you can minimise your exposure to commercially grown chemical residue is to buy and eat certified organic produce.
Bloobs Blueberries are Australian Certified Organic, grown without pesticides or herbicides.
Bloobs Blueberries are Australian Certified Organic. This is more than simply putting the word ‘organic’ on a label. Certified organic growers must meet defined organic production standards and undergo independent certification.
And when it comes to growing Bloobs Blueberries, our approach is simple: No pesticides. No herbicides. Just delicious blueberries grown by a family-owned farm in the pristine environment of Southern Tasmania.
Blueberries are naturally delicious and convenient – perfect for lunchboxes, breakfast, desserts or simply eating by the handful. You can confidently enjoy Bloobs Blueberries knowing that the fruit has been grown under a certified organic system, without the use of pesticides or herbicides.
So next time you reach for a punnet of blueberries, take a moment to look beyond the label. Question how they were grown. With Bloobs Blueberries, the answer is simple. Certified organic. No pesticides. No herbicides. Just beautiful organic blueberries, grown for you with care in Southern Tasmania.
For more about our farming practices read our blog post on Australian Certified Organic.
