W42: Weekly Berry Update
Blueberry
Peru: Peak Season of Blueberries in Peru Affects Avocado Harvesting Due to a Labor Shortage
Peru is in the peak season of blueberries in W42, so most of the harvesters of the Peruvian highlands moved to the blueberry fields on the coast until the season ends. Workers moving to the coast for the season is causing a problem for the avocado producers in the highlands at this time of the year, as the labor shortage is creating high labor costs in the highlands.
Peru: IBO Report Looks at the Upcoming Peruvian Blueberry Season
According to the IBO 2022 State of the Industry Report , the country has seen a 16-fold growth in blueberry exports in less than a decade, rising from 12,951 metric tons (MT) exported at the end of the 2015-16 campaign, to an estimated 219,982 MT exported in the recent 2021-22 season. Peru sent blueberries to 31 countries around the world in the recent campaign, the main destinations being the United States, Europe, China and the United Kingdom. The total production of blueberries constituted about 55% of the total production of blueberries in South America in the 2021/2022 campaign. The most significant region in exports of this crop was La Libertad with a representation of 54.11%, followed by Lambayeque with a representation of 21.16% and Lima with 7.98% of the total. The report exposes how Peru has managed to capture various international markets and how it is trying to acquire more markets, such as Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan and New Zealand.
Peru: 20,000ha of Blueberries to Be Certified for Export, an Increase of 21%
In 2022, the blueberry areas certified for export by Peru would reach around 20,000 hectares, which would mean an increase of 21% compared to the 16,535 hectares certified in the 2021 campaign, reported the president of the Inform@cción consultant , Fernando Cillóniz Benavides. He highlighted that, in 2021, the blueberry variety that certified the most areas for export was "Ventura" with 5,290 hectares, which represented an increase of 12.3% compared to the 4,711 hectares of this variety certified the previous year. In addition, the Ventura variety participated with 32% of the total certified areas in 2021, surpassing the "Biloxi" variety, which the previous year was the most installed variety in our country.
Precisely, the "Biloxi" variety was the second most certified in 2021 with 5,160 hectares, registering a contraction of -4.1% compared to the 5,381 certified hectares of 2020. It is followed by the "Rocio" varieties with 1,238 hectares (860 ha in 2020). ), “Emerald” with 1,033 ha (783 ha in 2020), “Atlasblue” with 425 ha (244 ha in 2020), “Sekoya Pop” with 424 ha (55 ha in 2020).
Peru: Blueberries From Peru Will Open Up to 12 New Markets
Peru has set out to open 12 new export destinations in the future, in addition to the recent opening and first exports to Portugal, Israel and Jordan, all in the current 2022 season. "It is our goal to further open the market before for this season to end, but we still cannot know because it depends on several factors," says Luis Miguel Vegas, general director of the Association of Blueberry Producers of Peru (Proarándanos). Peru has carved out a niche for itself in 62 international markets as the main producer and exporter of blueberries. Proarandanos estimates that the country will export around 25% more than last year, 250,000 tons of blueberries for the current 2022-2023 season.
However, the only objective is not growth, but to diversify markets, spread risk and increase sales opportunities for Peruvian companies that produce and export blueberries. Given the global risks and shocks, not relying too heavily on a few key markets is the lesson that the relatively young Peruvian blueberry sector has embraced from the start. It is known that it takes between 10 and 15 years to open a new market for a basic product. It is difficult to follow the pace and the stage in which each country is on that path to finally gaining access to the market. “There are destinations with more advanced processes than others. Among the list of destinations in process we have Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, among others”, concludes Miguel Vegas.
Chile: Cancelled Freight Space Penalties Are Reconsidered This Season in Chile
The blueberry season started in W42, and cherry season is expected to commence in the first week of November. In the last season, the high volume of air cherries caused a rise in the freight rates, and some airlines penalized the FFs who canceled the space requested. This penalty consisted of charging a “false freight”. Forecasts indicate that this season airlines will not apply those penalties due to the increase in the delivery times of the cargo at terminals, which is not the responsibility of suppliers.
The Chilean Blueberry Committee, together with the consulting firm iQonsulting, have estimated a volume of 98,228 tons of fresh blueberries from Chile for the 2022-2023 season. Volume estimated for the 2022/23 season has declined eight percent from last year. This has resulted primarily from the Chilean blueberry industry’s intense focus on providing only the best quality blueberries to its export markets. The industry is undergoing extensive variety renewal, with some varieties being shifted into frozen exports and other industrial uses. At the same time, growers are planting new varieties with better post-harvest conditions that will allow the fruit to arrive with the full flavor and sweetness characteristic of Chilean blueberries.
The industry anticipates better conditions for the export of fresh blueberries. Cooler temperatures have enhanced fruit quality, and there has been greater availability of labor for harvesting, packing and logistics operations, factors that made last season challenging. Small shipments to the U.S. market have already begun and will continue through February. The U.S. continues to be Chile’s main market for fresh blueberries, receiving 54% of total volume. It is followed by Europe with 34%, Asia with 11% and the remaining 2% within the Middle East and Latin America. Chile ships 75% of all fresh organic blueberries to the U.S. During the 2021/22 season, 22% of all blueberries shipped to the U.S. were organic, and 78% conventional.
Italy: Peruvian Origin Blueberries Trading Around EUR 9-10/kg
The Italian blueberry market is mainly supplied by Peruvian origin berries where the Ventura variety dominates. It is a very large blueberry which sells for around 9/10 euros per kg. Processed blueberries can reach 12 euros per kg. Blueberry market prices from Bergamo (Italy 8/11 euro per kg; Peru 10/14), Bologna (Peru 17/19), Florence (Peru 12/14), Padua (Peru 15), Rome (Italy 14/16), Treviso (Italy 13.50 / 15; Peru 15), Verona (Peru 13/15).
Georgia: Blueberry Exports Reach Record High in 2022
July of this year turned out to be an extremely successful month for Georgian blueberry exporters, as the volume of blueberry exports from the country reached a record high. Thus, the export of blueberries from the country as a whole in 2022 reached a record 1.4 thousand tons, of which 930 tons were exported in July this year. Despite the late start of the Georgian blueberry season and a slight delay in exports in June, the second month of summer turned out to be a record month for exporters. As expected, the bulk of Georgian blueberries were supplied to the Russian market, while the combined share of other importers barely exceeded 6%. Of these countries, the largest volumes were delivered to the UAE, the Netherlands, Armenia, Bahrain and Singapore.
Strawberry
Australia: Strawberry Growers Looking To Extend Season After Bad Start
Australian strawberry growers are trying to extend their season after some farmers lost up to 70 percent of their crop earlier this year when parts of southeast Queensland had heavy rain and flooding. Queensland Strawberry Growers’ Association president Adrian Schultz says farmers experienced a rough start during the most profitable part of the season. “We rely on that early income to pay off all our set-up costs, and of course, that didn’t happen this year, so a lot of growers are trying to go for as long as they can in order to try and recoup those set-up costs and try and earn some money in the bank to go into the next season” Mr. Schultz says the floods in Victoria also mean there is still demand for Queensland strawberries. “I believe that this has been one of the coolest Octobers for many years, and that’s also allowed us to keep going because, generally, the temperatures are a lot hotter, and that’s the reason why we don’t grow strawberries here during summer; it’s just too hot.” If possible heavy rain predicted this week holds off, Mr. Schultz says the season might be able to continue for another couple of weeks.
Germany: German Retailers Apply Stricter Maximum Residue Levels For Strawberries
German retailers announced stricter MRL levels for fresh strawberries, creating a big concern about what plant protection strategies and what phytochemical exit to follow to conform with these new requests. A maximum of up to 5 active substances, 33-70% below the allowed level of MRL for each, and minimum days of active element traceability are a few of the mentioned prerequisites. Greek suppliers, bound with contracts of delivery to German retail chains, consider these measures another contributor to already high production costs, but still proceed immediately to adopt the new requests where possible. Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia may be affected as well since their production periods started earlier. To adhere to these new MRL requirements will further increase production costs for strawberry producers.
Greece: Greece Sign Agreement With Egypt to Alleviate Agriculture Labour Shortage
A preliminary decree has been signed which will allow 5,000 Egyptians to arrive and work in Greece in the next few months. The terms of the agreement are still being settled but accommodation, remuneration and return dates seem to be fixed. The only problem that remains to be settled is VISA authorisation since the Greek Ministry of Migration and Policy lacks the resources to manage the VISA procedure for such a high population movement, and fast track the procedure for all incoming workers to be able to move back home in emergencies. Greece is experiencing a labour shortage in the agricultural sector and the agreement with Egypt could help alleviate that shortage, especially in the short term. The lack of labour has pushed the Greek strawberry sector to decrease the planted hectarage, where at least 6,000 workers are missing which prevents the sector from performing well for 9 months that the cultivation is on. Another 4,000 workers are being missed for the olive harvest.
Turkey: 305.5 Decares of Land of 102 Farmers Was Damaged by Hail
4 teams assigned by the Serik District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry conducted damage assessment studies in agricultural areas damaged by the walnut-sized hail that fell on Saturday. It was determined that crops such as eggplant, pepper, cauliflower, strawberry and cotton were damaged in 121 decares of glass greenhouses, 21.5 decares of plastic greenhouses and 163 decares of open area belonging to 102 farmers in Eskiyörük, Şatırlı and Abdurrahmanlar districts. Serik District Governor Cemal Şahin, AK Party Antalya Deputy Kemal Çelik, Serik Mayor Enver Aputkan, AK Party Serik District President Hasan Yıldırım visited the farmer and examined the works. (DHA)
Raspberry
Poland: Ukrainian Raspberries Put Pressure on Prices in Poland
Prices for autumn raspberries in Poland, in contrast to summer ones, were clearly lower than last year, and this was largely caused by the increase in imports from Ukraine. This was stated by the professor of the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics of the National Research Institute of Poland Bozena Nosecka. "Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, quickly sells its products, fearing that due to the unknown situation, it will not be possible to store them for a long time," he said. The price of autumn raspberries in Poland is lower compared to last year, but in general the cost of raspberries this year is quite high. If we compare the average price in 2022, it is about PLN 14 per kilogram. On the other hand, last year the prices fluctuated within 15.9 zlotys per kilogram. "I understand producers who are not satisfied with the fall in the price of autumn raspberries. But this price is still high. During the last 10 years, the highest price was almost 8 zlotys per kilogram in 2015," Nosetska explained.
Italy: It Is Time for Raspberries From Morocco, Spain and Portugal
Umberto Maffioletti of the Arrigoni Chiara company states that it is time for raspberries from Morocco, Spain and Portugal and with smaller quantities from Holland, without forgetting the national ones, especially from Basilicata and albeit with less quantities from Trentino. The prices for Morocco range from 6/7 up to 8 euros per kg. Spanish prices are similar with prices from 7/8 euros per kg. A product of greater value is that of Portuguese origin: “According to the qualitative characteristics, from color to duration, about 12/15 euros per kg. There is still some Dutch product now down to around 14 euros per kg”. There is no lack of Italian origin: “Quota 10/13 euros. Trentino is almost finished, then the market arrives from Basilicata for about 10 euros". Raspberry market prices in Italy: Bergamo (Italy 14/16 euro per kg; Portugal 14/16), Bologna (Italy 19/21; Portugal 21/23), Florence (Italy 14/18; Portugal 15/18; Morocco 14/16), Padua (Italy 17/18), Rome (Italy 18/20), Treviso (Italy 17), Verona (Italy 16/18; Portugal 13/15).
Over the past week, the average wholesale price for fresh raspberries has increased by 43% and for the first time in the current season exceeded last year's levels. According to EastFruit price monitoring , from October 7 to October 14, 2022, the average wholesale price for fresh raspberries increased from 35,000 to 50,000 sum/kg (from $3.2 to $4.5), i.e. by 43% in just one week. At the same time, as of October 14, 2022, the average wholesale price for raspberries in Uzbekistan is 11% higher than on the same date in 2021.
Almost throughout the entire 2022 season, wholesale prices for fresh raspberries were below last year's levels, while the largest gap was observed from middle August to the start of October 2022. During this period, wholesale prices for these products were lower than last year's levels by 22-38%. However, in mid-October 2022, for the first time in the current season, wholesale prices for raspberries exceeded last year's level. According to market participants, the sharp rise in prices for these products is due to a significant reduction in supply in the domestic market, which in turn is associated with the approaching end of the raspberry harvesting season in Uzbekistan.
