Heat Wave in Portugal Bring Forward Harvest Window of Late Variety Blueberries

The blueberry campaign in Portugal starts in April/May in the South of Portugal, and runs until the beginning of September in the North, which allows Portuguese producers to reach the high value commercial window at the end of the season. Late ripening varieties such as Centra Blue have their volumes easily sold in the domestic and Northern European markets at lucrative prices for the producer at around €8-12/kg. However, this year producers will not be able to count on high prices because the heat wave that affected the Iberian peninsula led to faster maturation and an earlier harvest window. Thus, the volumes available of late varieties such as Centra Blue during the lucrative end of season window will be practically nil.