The Moroccan blueberry season is in full swing with the arrival of large harvest volumes. The sector maintains its growth momentum, attracting more producers each year. Salah Eddine Belkadi, Commercial Director of Unique Packing, shares the season's highlights.

The exporter states: “Over the past decade, Morocco has become a key player in the global blueberry market thanks to its ideal climate, strategic location, and investment in high-value-added agriculture. Today, Moroccan blueberries are widely recognized for their quality, shelf life, and traceability, supported by certifications such as GlobalG.AP, GRASP, and SMETA. According to official figures, last season's exports exceeded 50.000 tons of fresh blueberries and 6.000 tons of frozen blueberries. With an increase of 7.000 hectares in cultivated area, of which 30% is located in Souss Massa (central Morocco) and 70% in Loukkos (northern Morocco), we expect Moroccan blueberry exports to increase by 20% this season.”

At this stage of the season, demand for Moroccan blueberries is matching the increased supply, according to Belkadi: "There is currently strong demand from customers in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf countries. The price range is satisfactory, although prices were 22% higher on average in late February and early March due to supply shortages from Peru and Chile."

This dynamic demand is driven by the advantage of seasonality. Morocco covers an important window between the end of South American exports in January and the start of European production in May, making it an essential supplier from late winter to early spring. We benefit from other equally decisive advantages, such as shorter transit times (3 to 5 days compared to more than 20 for Peru and Chile), a lower carbon footprint, competitive costs, early availability, and better alignment with retailers' sustainability goals," the exporter adds.

The campaign is progressing well overall, according to Belkadi, especially at the commercial level, but some challenges persist. He explains: "Producers are facing a labor shortage, especially in Larache, which worsens during peak harvest periods. Logistics are not entirely fluid due to port congestion. Furthermore, there is still a long way to go to achieve consistent quality with new producers who have recently entered the sector and are still gaining experience."

"That's why it's essential to work with established packing plants in the sector, and that's our role at Unique Packing. We offer our clients robust logistics and quality systems, backed by our experience sourcing, marketing, and delivering premium Moroccan blueberries to the global market over the past four seasons," Belkadi concludes.