In W19 in the blueberry landscape, the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Service reported that China surpassed the United States as the world's largest producer of blueberries in 2021 and has emerged as one of the leading importers of blueberries. The International Blueberry Organization (IBO) revealed that the global area dedicated to blueberry cultivation reached 235.40K hectares in 2021, with a total production of 1.79M metric tons. China holds the top position with a planted area of 69.03K hectares, followed by the United States, Chile, Peru, and Canada. The main blueberry production regions in China are Guizhou, Liaoning, Shandong, Sichuan, and Yunnan. However, the expansion of blueberry planting areas in Yunnan is challenging due to strict land protection policies. Peru and Chile remain as the main suppliers of blueberries to China, benefiting from free trade agreements and off-season availability.
Chinese researchers at the South China Agricultural University have bred a new blueberry cultivar. The cultivar features a significantly larger size, with some blueberries exceeding 42mm in diameter, two to three times larger than regular blueberries. The new cultivar also offers an early harvest and high yields, making it a promising addition to the blueberry market. In China, blueberries are categorized into different grades based on their size, and large blueberries are in high demand despite their higher price. The new cultivar's medium to large fruits have diameters ranging from 18 to 25 millimeters, while jumbo ones surpass 26 millimeters. After eight years of research and development, the newly bred blueberry variety is well-suited for cultivation in the humid climate of southern China. Along with its large size, the sugar content ranges from 12-14%, with some berries reaching 16.9%. This new variety is expected to enter the market in January, much earlier than domestically produced blueberries that typically supply the market from April to September and imported ones available from June to December. It also extends the availability of blueberries until April. Unlike most blueberry cultivars that take several years to bear fruit, this new variety reaches high production in just one year if planted correctly. Additionally, its yield is three to four times higher than typical cultivars. As of W19, over 166 hectares of land across 15 production bases are dedicated to growing this new cultivar.
Lastly, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation of Peru (MIDAGRI) reported that during Q1 2023, Peruvian blueberry production had an increase of 37.5% reaching 286.65K tons, an increase of 30% compared to 2022 due to the expanded cultivation areas in Lambayeque, Ica, and La Libertas. Blueberries are the main export product, with sales exceeding USD 1.364M in 2022. Exports reach 32 markets, including the United States, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, England, and Spain. In 2023, exports are approaching 290K tons.
