«The peak of exports was 21.333 tons in week 38 and the year 2022 ended 33% above the peak of the previous year. With this positive variation, the volume shipped closed above 277.000 tons. Although most weeks experienced a positive variation, there were weeks in which the recorded volume was below the previous one, as a result of the crisis and political instability, which caused losses for agricultural businesses. It is estimated that losses after last year's riots amounted to $250 million for such important crops as blueberries, table grapes, avocados and mangoes," says Miguel Vegas.

«The current Russian war in Ukraine and the side effects it has caused in the markets, together with high prices, etc., predict a complicated 2023, just like last year. Although we will grow in volume, it will be a difficult year due to the international context. “We have faced several challenges, such as rising freight costs as well as rising agricultural input costs, which have negatively affected businesses,” he says.

As Peru's export volumes are expected to continue growing, Proarándanos' focus remains on opening new markets. Israel, which did not open its doors until the middle of last year, received 46 tons from Peru by air transport. «We hope to, at least, double our exports to Israel in 2023. We are working on opening new markets with a focus on Asia. “We have markets in the process of opening, including Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam, with a new opening for Peruvian blueberries this year.”

The peak of Peru's blueberry season, which runs from September to October, is now behind us. «We have already shipped around 90% of this season's volume. We are already in the final phase of our season, which we hope will end during the last week of March," says Miguel Vegas.