In January, Ñuble's fresh fruit exports totaled 29.8 million dollars and experienced a 72.9% year-on-year increase. Blueberry exports stood out as they increased by 3% in volume and 26% in value, totaling 15.6 million dollars. Organic blueberry exports increased by 68% in volume and 133% in value, amounting to 6.5 million dollars.
Mauro Magnasco, the general manager of the producer and exporter El Torreón Export, from San Carlos, acknowledged the recovery of blueberry shipments this season, after the bad results of the previous season.
“We still haven't received all the information about sales in the first half, so we do not have a complete picture. However, from what we've seen, the markets (United States, Europe, and China) have behaved normally. They were not wonderful, but they were not bad. Furthermore, there have been no problems. The logistics chain, which was by far our biggest concern, was fortunately re-established.”
Despite all this, Magnasco reiterated his concern regarding the future of blueberries because of "the way in which Peru is flooding the markets; this year it was in serious difficulties due to the political collapse, but next year, if they are more stable, they will continue to complicate things for us."
Source: La Discusión / simfruit.cl