In Portugal, the kiwiberry season has started early this year. According to Ricardo Machado, export manager for Portuguese kiwiberry grower and exporter Minikiwi Farm, the harvest has since concluded: "This year, the Portuguese kiwiberry harvest started two weeks earlier than usual. This meant we had already gotten started at week 30 and have now finished the harvest at week 35."
It wasn't exactly smooth sailing for the entirety of the cultivation period. Machado emphasizes that both rain and heat had an impact on both quantity and quality of part of the harvest. "Unfortunately, this year the weather had an effect on the total kiwiberry production. At first, we experienced rain during the time of flowering, which actually prevented proper pollination. As if that wasn't enough, August brought us several heat spikes, which in turn damaged some of the fruit. Looking back now, I would estimate that about 20 per cent of the production was lost due to these weather conditions. This ensured we were not able to reach the initial forecasts for the kiwiberries, but we still managed to grow 80 tons for the trade."
Machado has noticed an uptick in demand for the kiwiberry, especially in the European markets. He hopes this growth in popularity will continue, but there's a need for other varieties, he states: "The kiwiberries are exported all over Europe, as a company we're active in almost all of the European territories. Year after year, the opportunities for exporting to these countries increase, and we'd sure like this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. This year, we've seen great demand for the kiwiberries from Portugal. We'd like to capitalize on this further, but unfortunately we still don't really have the varieties needed to extend the harvesting period for the kiwiberry season."
Although Minikiwi Farm has always given priority to the kiwiberry, the company is now also planting blueberries, to expand its portfolio in the coming years. "Given the damages that can be caused by various weather conditions, we're currently investing in protecting the kiwiberries from hail. In terms of other investments, we're also looking to branch out into other produce, by planting a blueberry plantation in the north of Portugal at this point in time. Of course, these plantations will have to mature for a while, still."
The kiwiberry harvest is over and despite the losses in volumes, Machado is happy with the way it has turned out: "Overall I think the result of the season has met our expectations. We've put in the hard work over the past years and the kiwiberry is thriving. We've been fighting for the market and I think the time has come for the market to reciprocate that love and effort that we've put in."
For more information:
Ricardo Machado
Minikiwi Farm
[email protected]
www.minikiwifarm.pt