Blueberries grown in Guangdong, China, are gaining an edge in freshness and lower transportation costs due to their proximity to key sales destinations, with the planting area steadily expanding. The Guangzhou Deyu Blueberry Base, located in the Huadu production area of Guangdong, is set to deliver its crop approximately 20 days earlier than last year, according to Mr. Xie Jinping, the company's sales manager.
"The blueberries in Huadu are primarily cultivated in plastic greenhouses using substrates," explained Mr. Xie. "Thanks to the region's climatic conditions, January to March is our prime sales period, and current sales are proceeding smoothly. While the early production season sees smaller market volumes, February and March mark the peak harvest. With the ripening of our blueberry plants, we anticipate higher production volumes this season compared to last year. Notably, the proportion of fruits with a diameter of 18mm or more is quite significant this year."
Recent weather conditions in the production area have been favorable for blueberry cultivation. "We've had abundant sunlight during the day and large temperature differences between morning and evening," said Mr. Xie. "These factors have contributed to improved growth conditions, resulting in better taste and quality compared to last year."
Discussing the current market, Mr. Xie noted that while domestic blueberry sales are performing well, prices are lower than during the same period last year. "In January last year, imported blueberries dominated the market, with limited supply from Chinese producers. Now, imported blueberries from Peru and Chile are available alongside a larger supply of domestic blueberries from various production areas in China. This increased overall market supply has driven prices down."
He added, "Chinese blueberries have distinct advantages in taste and freshness. However, being in the early production stage, their supply is still limited, leading to higher prices. The relatively low price of imported blueberries also impacts domestic sales."
The Deyu Blueberry Base spans over 53 hectares and markets its produce under the "Huaqingyao" brand, with sales primarily targeting supermarkets and wholesale markets in Guangdong Province. "Because our base is located close to customers, our blueberries maintain exceptional freshness, which is a significant competitive advantage," emphasized Mr. Xie.