About 15 years ago, Driscoll’s, a California-based fruit grower, sought to establish blueberries as a popular fruit in China, a market where consumption was initially limited. The company invested heavily in the southwestern Yunnan province, scouting farmland, contracting with global genetics firms for premium blueberry varieties, and introducing advanced greenhouse and irrigation technologies. By 2020, Driscoll’s was producing roughly 30,000 tonnes of blueberries annually in China—comparable to California’s output.

The Chinese blueberry market expanded rapidly as local entrepreneurs adopted similar growing techniques and planted vast farms fueled by loans from state banks. Production increased more than 25-fold since 2010, and by 2021, China surpassed the United States as the world’s largest blueberry producer. This surge contributed to a significant drop in blueberry prices domestically, often selling for $3 or less per 250g container, making the fruit widely accessible to Chinese consumers.

However, the market’s growth has been marked by disputes over intellectual property (IP). Driscoll’s and other western companies accused Chinese producers of unauthorized use of their patented blueberry varieties, including the Eureka Sunrise cultivar developed by Australian firm Mountain Blue, for which Driscoll’s held exclusive licensing rights in China. Chinese courts have ruled in favor of companies like Driscoll’s in some cases, confirming that certain nurseries propagated protected varieties without authorization, ordering destruction of illegal plants and imposing damages.

Nonetheless, the scale of IP infringement remains substantial. Industry observers warn that thousands of hectares are planted illicitly, with many new illegal operations expected to continue. Western companies have employed private investigators undercover to obtain plant samples for DNA testing, uncovering unauthorized propagation within China’s growing blueberry sector. Chinese growers, increasingly aware of such tactics, have become more cautious, sometimes mixing unauthorized plants with others to complicate enforcement.

The rapid expansion of blueberry farming in China has also contributed to market saturation and a sharp decline in profits, impacting both Chinese and foreign growers. Prices for blueberries in Yunnan reportedly fell from $45 a kilo in 2021 to about $15 in 2024. Several investors and farmers acknowledge the boom has turned into a challenging environment, with expectations for high returns diminishing amid intensified competition.

Driscoll’s continues to pursue legal avenues and IP protections within China, having filed more than 20 lawsuits and achieving some court victories. Meanwhile, some genetics companies have adapted by licensing varieties more broadly to Chinese growers, including Mountain Blue’s recent agreement with a major Chinese pesticide firm, signaling a shift toward monetizing the widespread use of their cultivars rather than solely relying on litigation.

This dynamic reflects broader patterns in China’s agricultural sector and other industries, where rapid growth, state-backed financing, and aggressive competition lead to fast market expansion but also increased IP disputes and price volatility. Driscoll’s former CEO Soren Bjorn emphasized the high cost and complexity of operating in China but expressed confidence in defending the company’s intellectual property amid evolving regulations.