Chile is committed to discovering new and improved blueberry cultivars that provide an exceptional flavor and texture experience for consumers. The global market for Chilean blueberries is projected to grow as new technology for growing, harvesting, packing, and transportation is researched and incorporated. The fruit is a powerhouse of vitamins C and K, and it is rich in manganese and potassium and is therefore in rather high demand. Below, Helena Beckett of Giddings Berries USA answers some of the questions we have about the ongoing Chilean blueberry renaissance.

How has the Chilean season developed so far? Has it lived up to expectations?

It's been a fast season. It started a bit later than we expected here, but the peak came quickly compared to last year. Everything arrived on time. For Giddings, quality was better this year than last year because we focused on quality standards, eliminated cut-to-chill time, and expedited delivery to the US market. We also stopped exporting earlier than in the past due to quality issues related to rain and high summer temperatures.

What are some of the challenges currently facing the industry?

Chile's widely dispersed geography makes logistics difficult in terms of getting product from farms to warehouses and packing facilities. The distance to the market, to the United States, Europe and Asia is much further compared to the national production and compared to that of Mexico and Peru. Focusing on faster logistics from Chile to the market and investing in better varieties is key to delivering the quality that the market demands.

What is Chile doing, or what should it be doing, to address these challenges?

First, focus on the newer varieties. Second, focus on areas that have a short distance between the farm, cooling, packinghouse, and easy access to ports. Quality, consumer experience and shelf life are the demands of the market. Focusing on the final consumer is key to increasing demand.

What makes Chilean blueberries stand out from the competition?

At this time of year, other sour regions are not producing as much, so Chile has the best supply volume to the US, for the December/January period.

What will the foreseeable future look like for the industry from your point of view and what are your expectations?

I believe Chile will continue to be a player as long as we focus on the best varieties, getting product to market faster, and only shipping the best quality as there is now increasing competition from other growing regions. Everything looks good if we are focused and competitive with other sourcing regions.

How important is data to you as a blueberry marketer?

Data is very important to quantify and grade the quality of fruit when it arrives in the US, so from a marketer's perspective, we use data from when it left for the source and when it arrives at the the US and that is a very important part of our process. We look at the quality and inspections of the fruit, compared to the USDA and what we need here to move it within the US and then do the same quality control report on arrival. Sometimes within a couple of days of arrival we do another inspection because transit time really affects the quality of the fruit and shelf life. Historical volume data is a useful resource for forecasting future supply.

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. (Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

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All prices for US domestic produce represent the spot market at the point of shipment (ie, packinghouse/climate-controlled warehouse, etc.). For imported fruit, the price data represents the spot market at the port of entry.

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