Jorge Esquivel: "Quality and stratification..."
Jorge Esquivel Manterola, director of Blueberries Consulting, had an excellent participation in the 11th National Meeting of Blueberry Producers held in Portugal. The renowned specialist and international advisor was invited to speak about the changes and challenges that are expected for the global blueberry industry.
In his presentation: "Future trends in the blueberry industry", Jorge Esquivel precisely defined the framework in which the current industry finds itself and elaborated in detail on the great challenges involved in belonging to an industry that continues to grow and that, according to the latest report by the International Blueberry Organization, can reach a production of 3 million tons in 2025, which would mean almost tripling the current volumes and with it, increasing the challenges.
Present of uncertainties
Esquivel addressed the main topics of interest for the producers, businessmen and investors present, stressing that these forecasts for the sustainability of the global industry depend on the uncertain global economic and political outlook, crossed by the consequences of the pandemic, the impact of climate change and the repercussions of the war, all elements that affect the participation of industry players, competition strategies, consumer behavior and the relevance of sustainability as a requirement in blueberry production.
Varietal change
The logistical crisis resulting from the pandemic, the delay in fruit transfer times, the new consumer standards and the greater demands of the market must prompt producers to seek solutions through varietal replacement to regain competitiveness and avoid decreased returns.
The aim is to obtain varieties that may be more water-efficient, more productive, offer better-tasting fruit or larger caliber, and have good post-harvest performance, among other qualities.
Minister of Agriculture of Portugal, Maria do Céu Antunes.
In this regard, the director of Blueberries Consulting draws the attention of the attendees regarding facing varietal replacement with caution and providing themselves with abundant prior information on the specific qualities of the varieties and the conditions of the various programs offered and, on the other hand, take on the management of the farm with great responsibility, because the mere fact of changing the variety does not solve all the problems to be faced.
"As important as choosing a suitable variety, it is necessary to have a commercial strategy, define production objectives and adequate pre-harvest handling and on time, to demand the maximum genetic potential of the variety," warns Jorge Esquivel, based on his vast experience as a project advisor. productive in different geographies and diverse climatic conditions in several countries, both on soil and on substrates, conventional or organic.
Programs
The agronomist and Master with specialization in plant nutrition and soil chemistry, explains that multiple genetic programs have created new business models. While some genetic developers sell a range of varieties according to the quality sought by the producer, others offer not only the production of their varieties premium, but also its commercialization and marketing under its own brand.
Stratification
Some genetic programs are committed to creating their own marketing brands and promote the stratification of brands in retailers to receive the price according to the quality and condition with which the fruit arrives on their shelves.
The poor condition and quality of a released variety can affect that of a variety premium. "This is why stratification is promoted," said the rapporteur.
Jorge Esquivel's long experience leading the extension and training activities of the blueberry industry, permanently providing it with quality information and relevant knowledge, allows him to properly address various topics and share his extensive knowledge with the attendees, both in his presentation and in the other spaces of the meeting.
Sustainability and consumption
Regarding the challenges of sustainability of the productive activity, he warns that many producers have experienced alterations in their harvest seasons due to unexpected temperatures, while others simply see how the investment in their fruits is lost due to unusual climatic phenomena. It highlights that the costs for sustainability have been incorporated by the producers through protected agriculture systems, improvements in the efficiency of the use of water resources through digital instruments and in accepting government regulations, because the demand of consumers, both their Governments as well as companies, demand measures that protect the environment with stricter regulations. “On the other hand, the consumer is demanding recyclable or compostable packaging, while the trend is growing to consume local products to reduce the carbon footprint,” he comments.
World economy and demand
Jorge Esquivel, in his holistic view of the future of the blueberry industry, stops at a brief analysis of the world economy, which is mostly being affected by the consequences of the pandemic and by the scope of the war, which is affecting the scarcity of some essential products and mainly energy resources. His vision is that despite world inflation there is some peace of mind regarding the future consumption of blueberries. “Blueberry penetration in Europe and Asia is still low, so there is a lot of room for growth in demand. In China, a family consumes on average once or twice blueberries a year”, he comments.
Leaders and emerging
On the horizon of the global industry, Esquivel highlights the continuation of the irruption of new players that are joining the industry, growing not only the map of demand but also the geography of crop production on the planet. Especially those that have qualified and cheap labor, availability of natural resources and relatively new farms, so they start by cultivating modern varieties, of good quality and high yields.
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