“The blueberry industry is not immune to the Peruvian and international crisis”

Problueberries:

"The blueberry industry is not immune to the Peruvian and international crisis"

“We require a collaborative attitude on the part of all the actors in the value chain, and a joint strategy that allows the viability of the operations of Peruvian exporters of all sizes”

14/11/2022

On November 11, in an untimely and surprising way, Proarándanos, the organization that leads the successful Peruvian blueberry industry, issued a Press Release in which they point out different aspects of a possible crisis in the industry, warning that "this growth is not it would be maintained in the future given the current situation”.

The Peruvian union organization lists a list of problems that are obstacles to further growth:

The significant increase in maritime freight costs, with increases of more than 70%.
The rise in imports of agro-inputs linked to the same.
Higher shipping rates vs. others
Shortage of containers and closure of destination ports.
In addition to this, the shipping companies have been offering very little flexibility with respect to associated costs.
Collapsed national infrastructure.
The main markets for Peruvian blueberries, such as Europe and the United States, are going through difficult times.
Poor participation of the State in its promoting role and excessive regulation that affects the competitiveness of our sector.

"We need the logistics companies, the shipping companies and all the others involved in the export of our fruit to be true strategic partners so that, together, we can overcome the problems that our industry is facing at the moment," is the appeal of Proarándanos, representing the Peruvian blueberry industry, an activity that generates work for more than 250 families, directly and indirectly, in more than 10 regions of Peru.

An industry that grows

Despite this, in the last year more than 1000 hectares of blueberries were planted in Peru, which means an increase of 6% of the total, reaching an area of 17.943 hectares today, in which 65 varieties are produced. of blueberries, with a volume up to week 44 of 207.088.275 tons, in a campaign that is projected to exceed 275 thousand tons, surpassing the previous season by 25%.

It is to be hoped that the Problueberry Communiqué is only a wake-up call to the authorities and the industry to adjust measures and consolidate the leadership of an industry that, despite everything, is growing.