Southern hemisphere shatters blueberry export record

Southern hemisphere growers exported a record volume of blueberries for the 2019-20 season.

In fact, it was 18 percent higher than the previous record, according to iQunsulting, which is sponsored by ASOEX and Fedefruta and is supported by the Chilean Blueberry Committee, in the group’s recently released 2019/20 blueberry season report.

Among the figures noted on the report, according to by Simfruit, a Chilean news agency, one that stands out the most is the new record for the export of blueberries from the Southern Hemisphere, with 261,500 tons, reflecting an increase of 18 percent compared to the previous season.

Chile contributed 42 percent of these volumes and for the first time is not leading the region, dropping to second place with 109,400 tons exported, a slight drop of 2 percent compared to the previous season.

Peru’s growth in the last five years from 13,000 tons to 120,325 tons in 2019-20 reflects an 800 percent during that period, and 18 percent in the last campaign.

Although not part of the southern hemisphere, Mexico, Morocco, and a small part of Spain competes with Chile as their seasons take place during a period with the late volumes of Chile.

The Mexican season lasts all year, but it’s at its strongest in April, towards the end of the Chilean season and before the start of the local season in the U.S., its main destination.

The 2019-20 season is still ongoing in Mexico and is projected to reach 42,500 tons, 16 percent more than the previous season.

Morocco and Spain are also ongoing, and in 2019 they exported 68,400 and 25,200 tons respectively, reflecting a growth of 18 percent and 38 percent in each case.