More Peruvian blueberries on the way

The Peruvian blueberry season is off to a good start. “Supply is pretty good with the season underway and volume and quality are strong,” says Jason Fung, Oppenheimer Group's vice president of categories and strategy.

The season got off to a slightly later start with cooler weather contributing to that delay. Still, volumes are up from last year and strong, so there haven't been any major disruptions to start this deal. Overall, supply from Peru has increased, which Fung says is a good time as Asia, North America and Europe look to move more volume from Peru to their markets.

Peruvian blueberries are part of the Oppenheimer Group's line of berries, which includes strawberries, blackberries and raspberries, along with blueberries under its Ocean Spray brand line as part of an exclusive partnership. The company also supports Fair Trade through this Peruvian blueberry program. “Sustainable development and corporate social responsibility are important to us, so we are honored to provide consumers with options to help farmers improve their social, environmental and economic standards,” said Fung.

Help increase consumption

Demand is good for the popular berry, and Fung adds that the Peruvian program is very important for the industry. “Consumption should continue to grow and we anticipate seeing more on the market in the coming years. We seek to work hand in hand with retailers to promote and create value for customers,” she says.

Helping to move toward that goal is likely to be branded consumption. “Brand-name products continue to dominate the fruit and vegetable snack category. As one of the most recognized agricultural product brands, we are delighted to market Ocean Spray, which leverages 96 percent brand recognition. This has been and will continue to be an important factor in the advancement of consumption”, adds Fung.

Prices have been consistent over the last year as volumes have increased. At the same time, Oppy is managing challenges such as labor costs and availability, as well as supply chain issues and transportation costs. “We're looking at a number of opportunities to streamline these concerns, including better training and robotics where possible,” he says.

future promotions 

Looking ahead, volumes continue to increase in the market. “We are preparing promotions for October and November, as we see many opportunities to boost blueberry sales and consumption,” he said.

In addition to Peruvian blueberries, Oppy also ships Ocean Spray Happy Berry™ hydroponic strawberries. These berries are grown year-round in a protected ecosystem on tables raised to chest height. This makes work easier while reducing the need for chemical inputs and eliminating soil fumigation. Hydroponic cultivation also means much less water is needed as the berries are grown closer together and their high yields leave a smaller footprint.

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