The peak of Peru’s blueberry harvest has started, according to an exporter, as the latest statistics up to week 45 (6-12 November 2023) shows conventional volumes down by 51% and organic 61% lower compared to last season. Their saving grace this year are higher prices that will help to cushion the losses, say exporters.
The blueberry industry organization ProArandanos notes that shipments are 54% down, with only 53,066 tons sent. Exports to their key markets of the US are 60% lower, to Europe is 55% lower, to China volumes are 38% down. The largest blueberry production areas of Piura are 54% down, Lambayeque is 75% lower, La Libertad is 56% lower, and Ancash is 29% up to week 45.
Due to the shortage and significantly lower volumes from Peru, prices are higher in many markets. This can help lessen the losses to some extent, says a producer exporter from Peru: “At the moment, we can´t complain because we rather prefer to have the objective in price rather than in volume, we shall change our mindset to keep prices sustainable to have a healthier campaign every year. This is because the market could absorb the surge in pricing, and everybody is happy, both the grower and the market, but when the prices are low, the market might be happy, but the grower is carrying the risk and losing money. The current blueberry situation brought a balance, and prices are good to compensate for the reduced volume available, labor is not scarce anymore and made the process easy to control too.”
World markets are closely watching developments in Peru and how their blueberry peak is coming along. “Our usual peak was in October, and it shifted now to November with the objective to continue harvesting until the end of February and all together come as close as possible to the 2023/2024 projected kilograms.”
The large producer and exporter from Peru is also already worried about the next season: “The development of the sector in Peru, which is behind any projection given before because we were not expecting this. For the 2024 season, we will have to adapt the best to the weather conditions we will face next year after our normal summer period from Jan to March. This is especially true if the warm weather remains during May, June, and July and if El Niño is still here or not. Season 2024/2025 will be a year with challenges, to see the development of the plants after this El Niño and its influence they faced this year and secondly to adapt to the weather for the next 2024 new crop with a lot of speculation though by the sector,” concludes the grower exporter.
Source - https://www.freshplaza.com
