USA: competition between Chile and Peru affects imports of blueberries

USA: competition between Chile and Peru affects the importation of blueberries

14/03/2017

Despite pressure from the Peruvian market, blueberries imported from Chile to the United States continue to enjoy solid demand from consumers.

Jim Gatter, from the marketing company Sunny Valley International, comments: "Demand has been very good in recent weeks. Blueberries have been in demand for a long time and sell very well. Sometimes, they go through periods of little movement, like any product, but I would say that it has been very constant throughout the 2016 / 2017 season, from the beginning of October until now ".

At the same time, Chile's supply is decreasing. Gatter points to this: "Volumes are starting to diminish very quickly. This season, the product from Chile has been good. We have been receiving berries with a size between medium and large; The quality and conditions have been quite good for most of the season. Most containers have some sensitive fruit, which is very typical at this time of year ".

On the other hand, prices have been reduced a little, due to the high volume of blueberries available. "In the first half of the season, we had to compete with Peru's blueberries, something that does not happen normally"explained Gatter. "But now they are a new actor, so they will compete in the first leg of the Chilean season", he adds.

The largest Peruvian production has been constant, according to many suppliers of this product. "Peru is improving in many ways, it is doing many things. It's more competition, so I guess that's why the price has not been as good this season, as in previous years. However, blueberries have become a known product with good sales and it does not cost to sell them ".

Comment

According to figures from the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile (ASOEX), with information from the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), in the current season 2016-2017, to March (from 6 to 12), 102.131 tonnes have been exported of fresh Chilean blueberries, an 108,33% more than the same week of the month of March of the previous season (2015-2016). Of the total exported to date, 66.982 tons have been shipped to the United States and Canada, 22.580 ton. to Europe and 12.413 ton. to the Far East.

The Committee of Cranberries of Chile indicates that at the moment the harvests have lowered their rate strongly and are focused in the orchards more delayed, from the VII Region to the south. In this end of season, the weather has continued interrupting the collections, with intermittent rains normal for the season, especially in the south, which indicates that the harvests will continue during the month of March or until the climate allows an exportable quality.

Source: Fresh Plaza - Committee of Cranberries of Chile - ASOEX - SAG