The Egyptian blueberry season has been underway since January and is expected to end in May. This period sees a peak in harvest volumes, coinciding with a slow harvest pace in Egypt's main competitor, Morocco. Karim Fayed, operations manager of Fayed Agricultural Development Company (FATA), provides an overview of the season's progress.

The season began with an increase in planted area, following a steady growth trend in recent years. Mr. Fayed states: “The area dedicated to blueberries in Egypt has continued to increase, reflecting the growing interest from both producers and international markets. Compared to last season, we saw a significant increase in planted area, which continues to grow. Early indications suggest a significant increase in total production volume for this season, thanks to the ripening of newly planted fields.”

According to the producer, weather disturbances have impacted production, but not to the point of disrupting the season. He explains: “The 2024-2025 season presented some climatic challenges, particularly with fluctuating temperatures during key growth stages. A relatively mild winter contributed to stable plant development, but was accompanied by unexpected temperature variations that affected flowering, fruit set, and overall yield. However, fruit quality remains high on our farm, with good sizing, firmness, and flavor, meeting international market expectations.”

Egyptian producers are pursuing their strategy of an early season combined with larger-sized varieties. This option is proving effective, according to Fayed: "Early varieties remain a priority to leverage Egypt's strategic advantage in the market, ensuring their availability before the European production peak. Furthermore, producers are investing in new genetic varieties that improve resistance to environmental stress and post-harvest yield, ensuring better marketing and greater shipping capacity. In terms of sizes, this season has focused on larger sizes, which appears to be the future trend."

The season's commercial results appear to be favoring players in this young industry in Egypt. "Demand for our blueberries remains strong, especially in the Far and Middle Eastern markets, where buyers value the country's early season and the product specifications we grow. We expect the supply chain to run smoothly during harvest peaks, as was the case last year, thanks to the availability of interregional transportation and Egypt's position as a global logistics hub," Fayed concludes.