W41: Weekly Berry Update
Blueberry
Peru: The 2022 Peruvian Blueberry Campaign Is on Track to Reach 30% Growth
This year, Peru exported 8,453 containers of fresh blueberries through week 38 (September 25). For the same date in 2021, the country exported 6,059 containers. Prices are lower this season and reached an average of $5.5 per kilogram in August 2022,” says Noé Gutiérrez, an independent analyst at the Adoc company. The peak of Peru's blueberry season runs from August to November, and it is currently just over halfway there. The country has been successful in reaching new markets (Portugal, Israel and Jordan) in the current 2022 campaign. These new markets were reached by air and sea. In 2021, blueberry exports from Peru showed an increase of 20% year-on-year. This year, growth of 30% year-on-year is expected.
Peru: Peruvian Blueberry Exports Grew 123.4% In the First 6 Months of 2022
Between January and July 2022, Peruvian blueberry exports amounted to US$209,479,000, achieving a growth of 123.4%. They reached a total of 25 markets, whose ranking was led by the United States with an increase of 106.1% and a concentration of 52.8% of total shipments. Others were China (change of 421%), the Netherlands (90%), the United Kingdom (253.9%), Hong Kong (49.3%), Canada (84.1%), Thailand (54%), Brazil (75.9%), Spain (699.8%), Malaysia (23.3%) and Costa Rica (142%).
The question is whether the global blueberry market is going to collapse due to continually increasing consumption. No way! The product has a very good base, of healthy eating, answers Daniel Bustamante, president of the Association of Producers of Blueberries of Peru (Proarándanos).“The market is adjusting to this growth in volume, there are promotional activities that will support this growth. I believe that the industry is undergoing a period of change, where genetics play a very important role with the new improved varieties. The increase in volume affects the price and this was expected”, he maintained.
For his part, Luis Miguel Vegas, general manager of Proarándanos, pointed out that "there is still a lot of potential to increase consumption, there is a lot of potential, for example, in the United States, which is the main market (per capita consumption is elderly). Even market penetration can improve a lot. Currently, market penetration is 50%, but in 5 years the idea is to take it to 70% and also the idea is to boost the frequency of purchases” He stressed that even the percentage of heavy users of frequent buyers of blueberries in the United States is low, so there is a lot of potential to increase consumption in the United States, for example, not to mention other places, such as Europe and China, where consumption per capita is much lower. (Continue)
Peru: Entering a New Stage Op More Specialized Production for Demanding Consumers
The vertiginous growth of the Peruvian blueberry is entering a new stage. Markets are becoming more specialized and demand certain characteristics or attributes that are sought to be satisfied by producers from all over the world. And this is where the Peruvian blueberry once again has a great opportunity. The first stage of the blueberry industry in Peru sought to fill an unsatisfied demand in the off-season from producers in the northern and southern hemisphere (Chile). This unsatisfied demand was covered by fruit from multiple origins, and now the final consumer can find quality blueberries any week of the year, where Peru has established itself as the main exporter for the third consecutive year.
In the new stage that Peru is beginning, the attributes of each of the varieties are finding their space within the specific preferences of each consumer. Compared to other production areas, varietal change goes through a faster cycle of testing and validation in Peru, thus allowing the Peruvian blueberry industry to adapt more quickly and efficiently to the increasingly demanding global consumer. Both the continuous supply throughout the year, and the product adapted to consumer preferences, are great drivers of growth in demand.
South Africa: USD 167M Berry Export Revenue Threatened by Transnet's Strike
The South African berry industry is anxious that an ongoing strike by state port operator Transnet's employees could put 30,000 jobs at risk and affect the industry's export revenue of USD 167 million. With the local harvesting season that usually commences in mid-September and peak exports occurring from October through November, the livelihoods of a third of South Africa's berry producers are at risk. BerriesZa Association has requested urgent intervention in the strike from the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Trade and Industry, and Transnet executives. The port operator announced force majeure on October 6, 2022, citing the strike's significant effects on economic activity in all sectors. Part of its plea is that contingency plans be implemented to ensure that berries move through the ports.
The Chilean Blueberry Committee - ASOEX, together with the consulting firm iQonsulting, released the estimate of exports for the 2022-2023 season, highlighting that shipments of fresh blueberries are expected at 98,228 tons, a figure that represents a drop of 8% compared to the previous season. The forecast was made within the framework of the "Blueberries" block carried out at Fruittrade 2022. On the other hand, Isabel Quiroz, Executive Director of iQonsulting added that exports of frozen blueberries are expected to increase, reaching 60 thousand tons or more. “This represents an increase of more than 14% compared to the previous year, maintaining the growth trend and also the diversification of markets. Quiroz highlighted that this season presents better conditions for the export of fresh blueberries, such as cooler temperatures that favor the quality of the fruit.
Chile: Blueberry Export Window to Europe Shrinks Due to Large Volumes From Peru
By W40, European markets have begun to receive large volumes of blueberries from Peru which has impacted European markets in the form of decreased prices. This has a significant impact on the Chilean strategy for the 2022/23 blueberry season which will be limited to a few weeks because the window has shrunk. In that sense, the best weeks of departure from Chile will be from W49 of 2022 until W9 of 2023 before the 2023 Moroccan blueberries enter the European markets.
Mexico: Exports of Mexican Blueberry increased 5.02% YoY
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first half of the year Mexican blueberry exports registered 58 thousand 034 tons, with a value of 513 million 864 thousand dollars, an increase of 5.02 percent per year. Mexican blueberry production has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, with an average annual growth rate of 25.1 percent, which has positioned the country in sixth place in the world.
Poland: The production of highbush blueberry was estimated at almost 63 thousand tons, 14% more than last year, but the final result will depend on the course of the harvest in September and October.
Ukraine: Ukrainian Blueberry Exports Suffered the Least From War
The Ukrainian blueberry market suffered the least from the occupation, since its main production part is located in the western regions. Moreover, if there was a shortage of other seasonal products on the Ukrainian market, the blueberry segment, on the contrary, was characterized by oversupply and active price reductions, so exports were necessary for producers. Nevertheless, although exports have grown since July 2021, they were still somewhat inferior to the record levels of July-August 2019. Out of a little more than 1 thousand tons of Ukrainian blueberry exports, about 44% were sent to Poland, and another 31% and 16% to the Netherlands and the UK, respectively. Lower volumes were destined for Moldova, Spain, Germany and Finland.
Strawberry
Mexico: Exports of Mexican Strawberries increased 3.84% YoY
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first half of the year, 272 thousand 172 tons of strawberries were exported, equivalent to 748 million 843 thousand dollars, 3.84 percent more in relation to January-June 2021. In the area of production Mexico had the second best performance of strawberries worldwide, only below China.
Chile: Plague Puts Half of Production at Risk and Government Declares Agriculture Emergency
The strawberry nematode, Aphelenchoides fragariae, a pest that was not present in Chile expanded rapidly in the central-southern area of the country which led the Government to declare an agricultural emergency with the aim of aiding producers and being able to control the emergency. The Undersecretary of Agriculture, José Guajardo, spoke during an interview with EmolTV, where he highlighted that “the strawberry crisis is strong and a quite complex situation. In a minute it was thought that all production was lost, but over the days we have realized that it is not so." He added that "production could drop by 50%." Of course, he stated that this figure may decrease as they continue to work with pesticides. It is still not clear how this plague entered the country, according to Guajardo all established protocols were followed. To deal with this situation, the undersecretary pointed out that "$1.9 billion have been requested from the Ministry of Finance, which has already been approved and is in the process of being released.
France: Strawberry Yield in 2022 Almost Identical to 2021
On September 1, 2022, the most recent estimates for strawberry yield in 2022 were 76,000 tons. This means that the size of the yield in 2022 is almost identical to that of 2021. The strawberry acreage in 2022 will be around 4,000 ha and is stable compared to that of 2021. However, the various heat waves and generally high temperatures did have a number of consequences for cultivation: they accelerated the ripening of the strawberries, especially in summer, and sometimes caused a certain fragility, a shortening of the season and weak harvesting the various varieties.
At the start of the 2022 season, which started late, the low supply contributed to good strawberry prices, which were higher than in previous years. From the month of April, the arrival of Spanish strawberries and the simultaneous harvest in the different areas, with a more concentrated production peak in 2022 around mid-May, caused prices to fall more than in previous years. The usual shrinking supply from mid-June, with continued demand, was accompanied by a recovery in prices. In July 2022, producer prices were slightly higher than those in 2021 (+1%) and significantly higher than the 2017-2021 average (+13%). In January-July 2022, imports stood at 59,000 tons, an increase of 3% year on year, and exports (9,100 tons) increased to a lesser extent (+2%) year on year. The trade deficit (-50).
Poland: Strawberry production was estimated at 184 thousand tons, 18% more compared to last year.
Raspberry
Mexico: Exports of Mexican Raspberries Increased 16.13% YoY
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, raspberry sales abroad stood at 79,679 tons in the January-June period of this year with a value of 746,916,000 dollars, 16.13 percent more compared to the same period in 2021, the federal agency reported. Mexican raspberries has seen a sustained increase in the last decade, with an average annual growth rate of 23 percent, which places Mexico as the second largest producer worldwide.
Poland: Imports From Abroad Influenced the Prices of Autumn Raspberries
The prices of autumn raspberries, unlike summer raspberries, were definitely lower than last year largely due to increased imports from Ukraine - says dr hab. Bożena Nosecka, prof. Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics - National Research Institute. Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, sells its products faster, fearing that it will not be possible to keep them for a long time due to the unknown situation - says Dr. Bożena Nosecka. Prices of autumn raspberries are lower compared to last year, but Poland is still dealing with very high prices of raspberries this year - he emphasizes. Autumn raspberry prices are significantly lower, but if we compared the average level from 2022, it would be around PLN 14 / kg. Less than last year, when it was 15.9 per kg (ex factory), but overall the prices are high anyway, he says.
Poland: Raspberry Production Increase 6% YoY Due to New Plantings
The Polish raspberry harvest was assessed slightly above 110 thousand tons, which is 6% more than last year's. The higher level of raspberry production was mainly due to the growing area of raspberry plantings. In turn, the weather conditions this year were not conducive to obtaining high yields. Due to the relatively low importance of repeated fruiting raspberries cultivation, the final production result should not change significantly.
