Supplies of berries Imported fruit appears to be in short supply in several growing regions, but especially in Peru and South Africa. “South Africa had a late harvest this year, which has increased demand in Asian markets,” says Raed Kazi, sales director for Salix Fruits, a global fruit importer and exporter based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Throughout the year, Salix supplies berries from numerous countries, such as Chile, Peru, Mexico, USA, Argentina, Spain, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, Morocco, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and also Australia.

Other new producing countries are on the way, though. “We have recently seen new supply developing from countries such as Colombia, Jordan, Georgia, Egypt, Ecuador and the UAE,” says Kazi.

“In the past two years, production in China has increased significantly, with quality improvements being observed every year. This upward trend has attracted significant foreign investment, as major global players increasingly invest in Chinese production capacities.”

Meanwhile, consumption of berries continues to grow steadily as awareness of its health benefits increases. With the rise of e-commerce platforms, especially in Asia, Salix is ​​also seeing more direct-to-consumer sales driving further growth, and expects this trend to continue from consumers looking for both convenience and quality.

Trends in blueberry packaging

With continued growth in demand, new trends in blueberry packaging have also emerged in recent years, such as the use of tubes, cups, buckets and shakers. «Our customers, especially those who sell more in the sector of retail, are experiencing an increase in demand for these packaging options,” explains Kazi.

As for the prices of the berries In Asia, prices are quite high. Because of this lower supply, countries like India are paying prices they have never paid before. “In Peru, we are seeing prices of between $18 and $19 FOB per box,” says Kazi.

On the other hand, the supply of the South African crop is expected to increase in the coming weeks, which could calm the market in Southeast Asia. “Due to the weather conditions this year, the harvest has been delayed in South Africa and Peru,” says Kazi.

 berries were certainly a hot topic earlier this month when Salix Fruits participated in the 17th edition of Asia Fruit Logistica, where it has been exhibiting since 2016. Kazi says that its continued participation in this show and the first anniversary of the opening of its Singapore office demonstrates the company’s dedication to the Asian market. “As one of the leading platforms for connecting with key industry players in Asia, this show remains an essential event for the strategic growth of our company in the region,” Kazi adds.