High inflation plus the war in Ukraine increased the cost of producing blueberries in the world. In addition to this, the blueberry industry faced the logistical problem of shipping delays by ocean freight. 

Even in the face of these adversities, the export of fresh blueberries during 2021-2022 exceeded one million metric tons for the first time in history, an increase of 21% compared to the previous period. According to a new report published by the International Blueberry Organization (IBO), a third of this increase is explained by the better performance of new varieties and not the increase in planted hectares.

However, it was the industries with lower salaries compared to their target market, with good environmental conditions for blueberry cultivation and with easy transportation to their destination markets, which had the greatest advance in their position in the industry during this season.

This is how Mexico and Morocco have gained greater prominence in the export of the berry. Mexico sends 95% of its harvest to the United States, where it arrives by land in about 2 to 3 days. Labor is available and cheaper than in the United States, so they ensure a good economic return. Finally, the advancement of private and premium varieties guarantee optimum fruit quality. This genetic advance allows them to offer a good product despite the weather conditions. In the past season (2021-2022), Mexico produced 33% more fresh blueberries than in the previous period.

In Morocco, although growth was lower (3%), the conditions and its positioning are similar. The workforce is trained and more than sufficient, even being taken to Spain during the Moroccan season. Its cost is lower than that of its main market, Europe, and it is only enough to cross a route of less than 50 kilometers through the Mediterranean to reach it.

In addition, as Morocco is a relatively new industry, it has grown based on a strategy at the forefront of the international trend in the industry: prioritizing the quality of the fruit over production windows.

In the African country, most of the plants grown are premium or club varieties. And despite the difficulties with the drought and the consequences of climate change, the government has invested in water infrastructure, for which various desalination plants irrigate Moroccan fields among other projects. Read here about the progress of solar energy for irrigation pumping in Morocco. 

Finally, it should be noted that Peru, which also enjoys low-cost labor and good farming conditions, consolidated its growth despite being far from its main markets, the United States and Asia. This industry, which faced greater maritime logistics difficulties, became the third largest producer of blueberries after China and the United States, surpassing Chile. Change driven by the main trend in the industry: the shift towards higher yielding varieties