The Peruvian blueberry industry continues to strengthen its position in the international market, with the United States, Europe and China as its main destinations.
According to Luis Miguel Vegas, general manager of ProArándanos, the 2024 campaign has been marked by a slower start than usual. "We usually already have significant volumes in August, but this year, due to the El Niño phenomenon in 2023, many companies decided to prune later, which delayed the production," he says. In spite of this, the season has already reached its peak, with exports taking place mainly between September and November. Peruvian blueberries, known for their quality, are reaching their main international markets in perfect condition.
In terms of destinations, the United States remains the biggest buyer, accounting for around 50% of all blueberries exported from Peru, followed by Europe, with 30%, and China, with between 10% and 15%. "We are present in more than 30 countries, but without a doubt, the U.S. market is the most important," says the manager.
Peru has managed to position itself as one of the world's largest blueberry exporters thanks to its capacity to produce all year round. This is largely due to its favorable climatic conditions and constant varietal innovation. Vegas says that in addition to traditional varieties, such as the Ventura and Biloxi, the country has introduced new varieties like the Sekoya Pop and Eureka, which has led to a greater and more diversified supply. "These varieties offer greater competitiveness and are helping boost consumption in key markets such as the United States," he says.
In terms of prices, Vegas says that the season seems promising. "Although prices have not reached the levels we saw last year, when they doubled due to the lower supply caused by El Niño, they have remained at good levels so far." As far as the coming months are concerned, the market appears stable, although it is difficult to predict how prices will evolve as the season draws to a close in November.
ProArándanos remains optimistic about the future of the industry, with a strategy that aims not only for exports to increase, but also for greater market diversification to prevent a concentration of the supply in just a few marketing periods. "It is essential to grow strategically, making sure that our product is available at different times of the year so as not to saturate a single market," says Vegas.
ProArándanos was present at the Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show held last week in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information:
Luis Miguel Vegas
ProArándanos
Tel.:+51 944 000 399
[email protected]
https://proarandanos.org.pe/