The Peruvian blueberry exports in the 2023-24 marketing year (May 2023 to April 2024) will decrease by more than 40%, reports the USDA.

Exports of Peruvian blueberries to the US are most active between September and March.

After almost exponential growth in the last decade, Peru's blueberry export volume fell in 2023-24 due to warmer weather conditions, especially in the main production areas of northern Peru, which severely limited flowering between March and October, according to the report .

The officials of USDA in Peru They estimate that Peruvian blueberry production for the 2023-24 marketing campaign will reach 195.000 metric tons, a drop of 37% compared to the previous season.

The adverse weather conditions affected the coastal regions of the Peru throughout the calendar year 2023, especially in northern Peru, the USDA said. Peru also experienced its warmest winter in more than 60 years, according to the report.

The Ventura variety currently leads production in Peru, with 35% of the total area harvested, while the biloxy ranks second with 25%, according to the report.

“Both varieties fared poorly after high temperatures disrupted the flowering cycles of a significant percentage of plants, resulting in reduced fruit,” the report says. With 65 varieties currently grown in the country, the USDA said research on new varieties is strong in Peru, and several companies test new varieties each year.

Almost 80% of Peru's blueberry fields are concentrated in the northern coastal regions (Piura, La Libertad and Lambayeque), where adverse weather conditions most affect the productivity of Peru's blueberries.

FALL IN EXPORTS

Peruvian blueberry exports are forecast at 165.000 metric tons, a 48% decrease from the previous marketing year, according to the USDA.

In 2022-23, Peru exported fresh blueberries mainly to the US (54%), the Netherlands (25%), China (8%), Hong Kong (5%) and the United Kingdom (5%).

The USDA said total fresh produce exports in the 2022-23 marketing year increased 30% from the previous year, rising from 219.000 metric tons to 287.000 metric tons.

For the US market, Peruvian blueberry exports have grown from 27.000 metric tons in the 2016-17 marketing year to 154.097 metric tons in the 2022-23 marketing year, a 470% increase in just six years, according to the report.

Peru's unexpected production drop in 2023 resulted in higher prices, leading to a 28% increase in the value of exports in calendar year 2023, according to the report.

LONG-TERM GROWTH

Despite the setback in 2023-24, the USDA said Peru's blueberry production area has grown significantly over the past decade, from 200 acres in 2012 to about 44.000 acres currently in production, with average annual growth of 70%. .

The report says the estimated investment to establish 1 hectare of blueberries ranges between $30.000 and $150.000, with an average of $65.000, although several companies have noted that more recent investments have averaged $80.000 or more.

Still, USDA officials estimate that a full return on investment can be achieved in as little as two years, even at the high end of the range.

“Despite the poor performance of the 2023-24 commercial season, Peru offers the possibility of testing new varieties at a rapid pace (eight months on average),” the report says.

Peruvian blueberries are produced both in the ground and in pots where the characteristics of the soil are adapted, the report states. Large net barriers protect blueberries from wind and sand. The report says yields average 15 to 20 metric tons per hectare in the ground and 20 to 35 metric tons in pots. Peru's sunny, warm and dry climate, with cool nights, allows harvesting almost year-round in most areas, according to the report.