"The demand for blueberries is recovered"

25/08/2015

The blueberry harvest is exceptionally good this year according to Leon Schrijnwekers, producer of blueberries from Grubbenvorst (The Netherlands) and Weeze (Germany, to 200 meters from the border with the Netherlands). "Here have fallen an 100 mm of rain, which has caused some blueberries to crack, but in general, and fortunately, we have a good quality".

In Grubbenvorst, the company has about 30 hectares of blueberries and a field to grow plants for sale. Most of the plantation consists of blueberries of the varieties Duke, Draper, Liberty and Aurora. In Germany, Schrijnwerkers grows blueberries with Harm Valckx for ten years on a total area of 52 hectares, 40 of which are in full production. "Germany is not far from here, but it has some advantages, such as cheaper temporary labor. In addition, it is easier to sell German product to the Germans"Explains Leon.

For the same reason, Leon does not rule out cultivation in the United Kingdom either. Germany, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia are the main markets for blueberries. "At the beginning of the season, the prices were very good and, afterwards, there was traditionally a fall in the middle of the season. Now prices are recovering"Says Leon. The producer has anticipated this trend by cultivating many early and late varieties. "We have some late berries still in the bushes. The price of high quality blueberries is currently around the 5 euros per kilo".

For more than 50 years, the Schrijnwerkers company has been a member of Veiling ZON. This year, that association has come to an end and together with Harm Valckx and Special Fruit, Leon has founded a new packaging and classification company called Berry Packing Services. The employer sees the future with optimism. "We have decades of experience in blueberries, but in recent years the demand has increased enormously. The truth is that there is demand in our market".

Source: Freshplaza