The 2020/2021 blueberry season is in full swing and the volumes of fruit to the markets have increased considerably, mainly due to the Peruvian production that is in full season. Chile has not yet reached its peakHowever, it also shows a slight increase in export volumes.

The pandemic and its imminent repercussions on the markets, both in the health and economic aspects, are elements that should affect the industry, although most analysts and experts conclude that the blueberry industry, globally, is better prepared to face this or other crises due to the healthy demand for its product and the solid structure of its industry.

A new scene

Andrés Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, believes in the International Blueberry Organization (IBO) that the effects of Covid-19 are still difficult to project. “Without a doubt, there will be an impact on the world economy and changes in consumer habits that in some cases can become permanent behaviors. There will be significant challenges, but also opportunities. The food industry and in particular fresh fruit, despite the new conditions and restrictions, has continued working to maintain the food supply both locally and for external markets ”, he assures.

Since before the pandemic, the blueberry industry had been showing important changes. The inclusion of new actors in the offer, coming from the most diverse corners of the world, had already strained the global industry and the commercial behavior of the markets. Along with this, changes in the acceptance standards by consumers were also notorious, demanding greater qualities from the product.

Quality as a hallmark

"The blueberry industry is going through great changes and there is a new game board that reflects the new competitive scenario and that each season becomes more present in the market" reflects Armstrong.

In this sense of the requirements, the Chilean Blueberry Committee implemented a Quality System, focused on maintaining the consistency of the quality of Chilean blueberries. The objective of this initiative is to regulate the industry, establishing minimum quality requirements for blueberries for export, based mainly on the comprehensive supervision of the industry, from the correct choice of variety and each of the handling, to post-harvest.

This Quality System encompasses 5 fundamental pillars, beginning by encouraging the use of new varieties and classifying them according to their suitability; then supervising the operations that affect the firmness and safety of the fruit; promote good harvest management; advise on good cold management and postharvest traceability; and finally ensure product quality as a distinctive element of the industry, among many aspects.

An industry adapted to change

The Chilean blueberry industry with these measures is adapting to the new world scenario, where the increase in supply from different origins is already a reality, and also adapting to the new market conditions, in which quality, consistency and productivity have new minimum requirements.

“The focus is on quality and productivity, not on volumes. As for varieties, there is a revolution of renovations. A lot of surface has been renovated and we are beginning to see more and more varieties that are more productive, have good postharvest and the good flavor that characterizes Chilean blueberries. The industry already understood that there are varieties that simply do not have space in the current competitive scenario ”, comments the executive director of the Committee.

In the 2019-2020 season, Chile exported 110 thousand tons of fresh blueberries to the whole world, and this season it is projected that it will rise by only 2%, to reach 111.500 tons of shipments, which is within the stabilization plans and consolidation of the experienced Chilean industry, which clearly, according to its executives, has chosen to distinguish itself in the markets for the quality of its fruit.

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