Delay in Spanish productions

“This year, the storm Filomena, which crossed the peninsula in January leaving quite low temperatures, delayed the productions of the early varieties for more than a month. At the same time, the cold brought forward the production of the late varieties, ”begins Manuel Cerpa, from the Berry Dealer Berry Dealer, a Berry Dealer exporter from Seville. "The greatest exponents of the sector agreed that it was a dangerous season because at that moment it seemed that all the varieties were going to collapse in the month of April and they were going to enter production peaks together: the early ones later and the late ones earlier" .

“However, the temperatures in March and April have been very mild. If the blueberry does not have sun, luminosity and pleasant temperatures above 25 ºC, it matures and produces more slowly, so the peak that we thought it would have concentrated has not finally occurred ”, says Manuel. “Right now we have a scenario in which the early varieties such as Snowchaser or Windsord have already finished their production or are ending and the mid-season varieties such as Ventura, Emerald or Jewel are at their peak two weeks from finishing. As for the late varieties, the first blueberries of the varieties that were more advanced are already being harvested, while the harvest of the most backward varieties will begin in about 10 days ”, details the commercial director.

This development offers very good prospects for the remainder of the campaign, since, as Manuel Cerpa explains, “a very uniform campaign is expected until the end”.

Strong demand in the market

According to the expert, the demand for this berry This year it has continued to be very powerful and, despite the fact that it was initially announced that this season the production of blueberries in Huelva would increase notably compared to the previous one, "there has been a lack of gender in practically 80% of the season".

“The productions foreshadowed a year with 40-50% more volume due to the age of the trees, the hectares in production and the varieties planted and, above all, taking into account the figures of the past. But really that scenario has not happened. There have been short varieties of production and producing very slowly and continuously, and the peak has not existed. But the important thing is that prices have been maintained ”, he points out.

In fact, the blueberry is the berry from Huelva who is better escaping this season, highlights Manuel. “It has also been a good year for raspberries, especially since the winter prices have been good. Fruit has been lacking and what there was was of quality. In strawberry, this year prices are being very good, but there is not so much positivism in the sector ”, he remarks. “Most of the farmers in Huelva are unhappy because the volumes are not there, and although there have been good prices, among the complaints, the problems with the quality of the fruit and the low production rates - depending on the varieties the productions they have fallen by up to 50% -, the numbers do not come out ”.

Delay in blueberry production in Europe

While the spring temperatures have allowed the Huelva blueberry campaign to avoid the concentration of the supply that was feared at the beginning of the year, in the rest of Europe the climate is not giving respite, even in these first days of the month of May , delaying open field and tunnel productions.

Strong demand

“Productions under glass are being saved, which are mainly concentrated in Belgium and the Netherlands, where they have already started with their own-produced strawberries and have even cut the campaign with Spain. But in the rest of the countries, the demand is still strong and programs are even being made for part of next month because they cannot see when they will have their own production and they are aware that they will need to continue pulling imports ", explains the professional .

“In the blueberry the countries of Europe have between 15 and 20 days of delay and that will guarantee that Spain continues all May and all June in the market. And with good programs ”.

Destination Europe

Europe is the main destination for Berry Dealer's blueberries, which also sends the red fruits produced in western Andalusia to the Middle East and Asia by air as an interesting complement to the export campaign. Although the sector's efforts to expand the destinations for blueberries from Huelva, which have materialized with the recent opening of the Brazilian market, offer new opportunities for this exporting company.

“We are already beginning the steps to start relations in Brazil. We have potential there and we are examining the protocol to comply with the requirements and be able to launch ourselves, ”says Manuel. "I am totally convinced that it will be a country to consider for the future," concludes the commercial director.