W49: Weekly Berry Update
Blueberry
Netherlands: The Dutch Blueberry Market Price Remains Stable in W48 (Dec 5)
The Dutch blueberry market appeared to have finally bounced back in W47 after a long series of low prices, with the price stable at USD 8.45/box for 12x125g/box. However, it is not certain that this momentum will last all the way through the season. This is because, despite the volume of blueberries arriving in Europe decreasing weekly, Peru has shipped 38% more blueberries to Europe to date than in the 2021 season. By the end of the season, projections indicate that Europe will receive 74,000MT of blueberries, up from 54,000MT in the 2021 season. This increase in supply had and continues to have an impact on the market, which has yet to recover after a series of difficult weeks. At the end of W48, the blueberry prices stood at USD 7.39–9.51/box for 12x125g/box and approximately around USD 4.49-5.28/kg for fruit packed in bulk format.
Peru: Shipments of Peruvian Blueberries to China Double in the Current Season (Dec 5)
The United States continues to be the most relevant destination for Peruvian blueberries, receiving more than 50% of the total exports and a growth of 25%. During 2022 exports reached USD 772M, a growth of 30% compared to the same period in 2021. Despite the economic, logistical, and sanitary problems in China, exports of Peruvian blueberries to China reached USD 86M between January and September of 2022, representing a 138.4% YoY increase.
Raspberry
Spain: Raspberry Acreage Is Falling Again in Huelva (Dec 6)
In the Spanish province of Huelva, the soft fruit area for the current 2022/23 season amounts to a total of 11,802 hectares. That is 0.53% more than last year. Freshuelva, the association of growers and exporters of strawberries and berries from Huelva, indicates that the strawberry acreage covers 6,295 hectares. That is 2% more than last season's 6,167 hectares. Due to the high temperatures and the lack of rain in October, the growers had to replant about 20% of the plots in total until almost the end of November. The first harvest of those plants will therefore take place later than the seedlings grown in were transplanted in October. The replanting also causes a considerable increase in cultivation costs. The blueberry area has also grown by 2% from 3,532 hectares last season to 3,602 hectares in 2022. The current diversity of blueberry varieties makes it possible to have production as early as December, before the Christmas holidays.
In the United States, the FDA (food and medicine health regulator) reported that 1,260 boxes of Chilean raspberries were withdrawn from the market in that country due to the possibility that the products being contaminated with hepatitis A. In an official statement, the FDA specified the batches affected by the withdrawal from the market.
Strawberry
Israel: Israel Seizes 200 KG of Strawberries From the Gaza Strip (Dec 5)
Inspectors from the Central Enforcement and Investigation Unit (PISUH) of the Israel Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, located and thwarted the sale of 50 boxes of strawberries. With a total weight of about 200 kg, produced in Gaza, which were seized while passing through the tunnels surrounding Jerusalem. Inspectors arrived at the scene after a report from crossing guards. All the goods found were transferred for their destruction according to medical order.
Vietnam: Chinese Strawberries Landed in the Vietnamese Market Incredibly Cheap (Dec 8)
Entering the harvest season of strawberries, the Vietnamese market has been flooded with strawberries from Son La, Da Lat, Korea, Japan, and China. However, depending on the origin and size strawberries are sold at different prices. Particularly Chinese strawberries were cheap, at a range of USD 1.61-3.39/kg
