Mexico welcomes the international blueberry industry in full growth

The cultivation of blueberries in the country has been extended in surface area and has expanded in genetic varieties, in addition to advancing in technology and new crop management systems.

With an industry of almost two decades of experience and with a sustained growth of more than 20% per year on average, the Mexican blueberry industry is consolidated and concerned about moving forward in raising quality at all levels that are linked to the crop and its variants.

El XXII International Blueberry Seminar which will take place on May 25 and 26 at Expo Guadalajara, will be the opportunity to address the great issues that cross the industry, especially the challenges that Mexican producers must face and the perspectives that open up to continue growing.

tropical reality

According to official data, blueberry production in the 2015/2016 season went from 15.000 to 29.000 tons, in the 2017 campaign it reached 37.000 tons, and in 2018 it reached 40.000 tons, then it rose to 49.000 tons in 2019 and more of 50.000 tons in 2020, maintaining the permanent upward trend.

The Mexican industry is a leader in many aspects of cultivation at a global level, among others, it is a pioneer in producing blueberries in a tropical climate, which has been a contribution to research, science and knowledge regarding cultivation, and is observed with great interest. a lot of interest for producers of similar climatic and edaphological conditions.

Competitive advantages

Mexico allocates 95% of its production to the US and Canadian markets, destinations to which volumes have tripled in recent seasons. Mexican production, although it reaches its maximum harvest capacity between February and April, in practice the season extends from September to June, coinciding with South American production in its early and middle part, although it has the great advantage of the freshness of the fruit, due to the short distance it is from the North American market, which it arrives by land transport. In the final part, its production runs up against the campaign of local US producers, over which it has the advantage of the cost of the labor employed.

The cultivation of blueberries in the country has been extended in surface area and has expanded in genetic varieties, in addition to advancing in technology and new crop management systems. The latest large investments have focused on the north of the country, getting much closer to the North American market, and promoting the state of Sinaloa, which joins the states of Jalisco and Michoacán as the main producers of blueberries in the Mexican industry.

Challenges

The growth trend of the Mexican blueberry industry will continue to increase, not only in area, but also in yield and productivity, aspects that are due, since other countries, such as Spain, with half the area reach the same volumes. of production.

Another challenge for Mexican blueberry production is the diversification of destination markets, an issue that Aneberries has adopted as a strategic objective. Japan currently ranks as its second largest destination, after the North American market, which it serves with a combination of air and sea transport. On the other hand, for years Mexico has had export protocols with China, although without free trade agreements and with high tariffs, so very little volume is destined for that market.

The post-harvest process to ensure a good arrival of the fruit to distant destinations, the port infrastructure, and the lack of experience in maritime shipments, are important challenges to overcome if it is intended to grow in exports of fresh fruit to new destinations.

a profitable encounter

Mexican blueberries are present in more than 20 countries worldwide, although in most cases they are much smaller volumes compared to shipments to the US or Canada. On the other hand, the cultural connection of consumption with blueberries in Mexico is very minor, which is why Aneberries is trying to promote internal consumption, among a population of more than 120 million people.

These aspects, and many others that are related to the different areas of cultivation, will be addressed in the program on the two days of the meeting in Guadalajara, so it will be very beneficial for Mexican producers and for all the industry players who attend. to the event.

Source
Martin Carrillo O.- Blueberries Consulting

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