In W26 in the blueberry landscape, it was reported that in the 2023/24 season, Peruvian blueberry exports are projected to reach approximately 300 thousand tons, indicating a 5% growth compared to the 2022/23 season’s shipment of 286 thousand tons. Peru’s blueberry cultivation area currently spans approximately 18 thousand hectares (ha). However, the president of the Association of Blueberry Growers of Peru (Proarándanos) cautioned that this estimate is premature due to abnormal weather conditions. The potential occurrence of weather phenomena like El Niño could impact the final harvest size. In addition, the Peruvian blueberry export season for 2023/24 has begun successfully, with shipments to Southeast Asia increasing by 25% compared to the previous campaign's eighth week. The Peruvian Blueberry Growers & Exporter Association (Proarándanos) disclosed that 156.76 thousand kg of blueberries were sent to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. These countries have existing agreements for Peruvian exports in the region, while negotiations are underway with Indonesia and Vietnam. Furthermore, 56% of the exports to these markets were transported by air, while the remaining 44% by sea. In the previous campaign, Thailand ranked as the 10th largest importer of Peruvian blueberries, receiving 678 tons. Recent heavy rain and flooding in Chile have caused significant damage to blueberry, grape, and cherry fields, with some producers reporting complete losses. The fresh produce industry is still assessing the extent of the damage, including infrastructure damage and the impact on fruit and vegetable plants. The heavy rains, the worst in Chile in at least 30 years, affected central-southern Chile, including Santiago and Valparaíso. Access to orchards is limited due to mud and high water levels, and the loss of irrigation infrastructure is a major concern. Efforts are underway to comprehensively evaluate the damage once the water recedes and fields dry out.
The blueberry season is approaching and the State Forests of Poland announced the availability of blueberries. Offers for the sale of these fruits have started to appear online at prices ranging from USD 4.18-6.15/L jar (PLN 17-25/L jar) depending on the region. In Mazowieckie, blueberries are offered only on order, priced at USD 6.15/L jar (PLN 25/L jar). In Podkarpackie, hand-collected blueberries upon request are priced at USD 4.92/L jar (PLN 20/L jar), with negotiable rates for larger quantities. As the blueberry harvest starts in Poland, growers anticipate large and ripe fruits. However, pests such as aphids, blueberry midges, and plum cup beetles pose potential threats. Aphids may still be present on some plantations if not adequately controlled. Blueberry midges begin their intensive feeding in May and early June, with multiple midge generations observed in Poland, and they still pose a significant risk in July. Plum cup beetles are also a concern. Disease control is essential, especially for early varieties. Furthermore, during the pre-season meeting of the Association of Polish Blueberry Growers (SPPB), there were varying opinions regarding the upcoming blueberry yields. Some members reported that the upcoming yields would be similar to 2022, while others expressed concerns about a potentially smaller harvest. The situation across the blueberry plantations remains varied, as different microclimates and weather conditions contribute to a diverse landscape. After thoroughly analyzing the data and observations provided by the association's members, the Association of Polish Blueberry Growers has estimated that the 2023 harvest will be slightly smaller than the previous year.
On the other hand, the blueberry harvest is underway in Germany, with early varieties harvested in weather-protected polytunnels and outdoor cultivation. The main outdoor harvest, particularly for the early main variety Duke, is expected to gain momentum in the first week of July. Experts from the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture anticipate a favorable harvest with good fruit quality. The United Kingdom blueberry season has commenced, and leading growers forecasted a robust production in 2023, anticipating a record-breaking harvest of 6 thousand tonnes this season. Lastly, the off-season blueberry imports in Georgia have experienced significant growth over the past five years. The imports doubled each year, with the latest off-season 2022/23 seeing twice the amount of blueberry imports compared to the previous off-season 2021/22. However, the total imports of 55 tons in the 2022-2023 off-season are relatively low compared to Georgia's blueberry exports of about 1350 tons last year. Blueberry import prices (CIF) ranged from USD 9 to13/kg during the active off-season import period.
