On 35th International Blueberry Seminar Held on April 10th at the Monticello Conference Center, the current state of the Chilean blueberry industry was thoroughly analyzed, assessing its main weaknesses and challenges in a global context. The meeting was an excellent opportunity to analyze and take a strategic look at Chile's current situation and its position relative to its main competitors, considering the different scenarios in which the crop is produced on each continent or region and the advantages that the modern industry offers Chilean producers.
The main emphasis was placed on fruit quality, one of the crucial factors for projecting the industry's development in the medium and long term. Other important challenges were also addressed, such as varietal renewal and the need to anticipate potential tariff scenarios in key markets like the United States.

The numbers
The Chilean blueberry industry covers an area of ​​over 18 hectares planted, producing just over 140 tons. Therefore, its average productivity barely exceeds 8 tons per hectare, which is not a figure with which it can compete in the global market.

The ideal is to achieve a figure close to 20 tons per hectare to regain competitiveness, which is expected to be achieved by switching to new improved varieties.

The frozen grows
Of the more than 140 tons produced by the Chilean industry, only 90 tons were fresh fruit and almost 60 were frozen fruit, opening up a new avenue for Chilean producers, as the frozen food business has much lower associated costs and almost half of the production is already harvested mechanically.

Good prospects
According to data provided by Agronometrics, in the interesting talk by Pablo CortesIn the field of economic returns, prices tend to stabilize, reversing the downward trend of recent years.

These positive projections, amid a global reality of geographical expansion of planted area, with a production volume of over 700 million tons, an average of 60 tons of annual growth in volumes shipped to global markets, and a constantly rising demand, could provide a new boost to the Chilean blueberry industry and reclaim a definitive position in the global export market.

We look forward to seeing you at the next events of Blueberries Consulting:

-XXXVI International Blueberry Seminar, Guadalajara, Mexico May 28 and 29
-XXXVII International Blueberry Seminar, Trujillo, Peru, July 9 and 10
-XXXVIII International Seminar on Red Fruits, Tangier, Morocco, September 10