South African growers regroup after last year's blueberry crisis

The start of the new blueberry harvest is just a few months away and South African farmers are regrouping and studying new strategies. Rainbow Superfood managing director Tiaan Rossouw says he has been pleasantly surprised by what he has been hearing in a sector which, he says, "hit rock bottom" last year.
«Producers everywhere are making plans to cut costs and break away from preconceived schemes. In fact, it is an interesting time when positive things are emerging from a difficult time. "We are constantly learning and, without a doubt, this next season we will be very focused on performance."
Not many blueberry growers have left the sector, but as Tiaan says, there is a feeling of starting anew, with accompanying investments for renewal and expansion.
«I am seeing a lot of evolution towards new genetics. "The producers who invest early in better genetics will be those who are sustainable," she emphasizes. "Genetics is very important, much more than in the past, given the global oversupply."

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It indicates that there is now a wide assortment of blueberries available in the country: it all comes down to yield, size and good eating quality, along with a crunchy texture, although it is difficult for a single variety to meet all these characteristics.
«What happens is that, the greater the berry, the softer it is. It is a very delicate balance that must be maintained between how far we can extend the spectrum of sizes of a variety and at what point of that spectrum a variety is optimal. Combine varieties with good shelf life and firmness with varieties of berries larger allows you to serve your entire market well.
Blueberry growers are increasingly choosing to take over the marketing of their blueberries in order to have more of a say in decisions than is possible within the rigid export club structures that prevailed in the early years of the South African blueberry industry. .
"Producers tell me that the difference between the prices they get through an agent of their choice and through the clubs is astronomical."
Thailand bans entry of blueberries
For now, demand in Europe is clearly too low, he stresses, but lower shipping costs could stimulate that market.
The extreme need for labor in blueberry packing plays into why Europe remains such an important market for South African blueberries.
«The pressure must be relieved by supplying fruit in bulk. If we look at the amount of work required to package blueberries in 250 gram tubs, we see that it is simply not possible to package everything in tubs. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an outlet for these large volumes and, today, Europe is the only market large enough to absorb them.
Tiaan continues: “Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia are very good markets, but they are small, and it doesn't help that everyone ships there. "We have made shipments to Vietnam and Indonesia, markets that we could continue developing."

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China has not yet opened its doors to South African blueberries, and the widespread closure of the Thai market to all blueberry imports (for no reason given) is a shame, he regrets.
«I have to say that Africa is showing more interest than ever, especially in Angola, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. "It may be that blueberries have become more affordable and within reach," she reflects, adding that South African blueberry exporters now have to investigate every market they are not already shipping to.
Tiaan says he trusts BerriesZA's leadership. «The organization is striving to solve logistical problems and is looking for strategies to lead the South African sector out of the crisis. "Last season, the processing industry stopped accepting blueberries and, in extreme cases, the fruit ended up in ditches in packaging warehouses."
This year, he points out, growers have high hopes that it will be a better season and that good relations with buyers will be key to survival.