Demand for blueberries changes the Portuguese region of Alentejo radically

Published 2021년 9월 27일

Tridge summary

Portugal's Alentejo region has seen a surge in blueberry cultivation, with exports tripling since 2015 and projected to quadruple due to increasing demand in Northern Europe. The country earned €247 million from blueberry sales in 2020, primarily to the Netherlands and Germany. Despite the challenges of growing Vaccinium corymbosum, the industry is profitable for growers. The expansion is facilitated by the region's temperate climate and EU agricultural subsidies, though it relies on migrant workers, numbering between 10,000 and 15,000, most of whom are from South Asia.

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Original content

With the demand for blueberries soaring in Northern Europe in recent years, significant changes have taken place in Alentejo, a region in the south of Portugal. Portuguese blueberry exports are now three times what they were in 2015, and the sector expects consumption to quadruple in the coming years. In 2020, Portugal generated €247 million in revenues from the sale of blueberries, with the Netherlands and Germany as the largest buyers. Vaccinium corymbosum, the cultivated form of the blueberry native to North America, is challenging to grow. The shrubs need the correct amount of water and are sensitive to cold. In addition, each berry must be turned from the bush separately. In return, the growers usually receive attractive prices. No other fruit is gaining importance so quickly. In 2019, the annual consumption per person averaged 1.4 kilograms. In Europe it was only 190 grams. Alentejo seems to be the perfect environment to expand cultivation. The climate is temperate for most ...

Source: AGF