In 5 years, Peru exported 12 times more fresh blueberries, going from 12.951 tons in the 2015/2016 season to 176.912 tons in the 2021/2022 season (until week 46 and this season has not yet ended).

This was stated by the general manager of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Blueberries of Peru (Proarándanos), Luis Miguel Vega Arias-Stella, who indicated that between August and December 90% of the volume of blueberries from Peru is exported. In addition, between September and October, more than 60% of the total is dispatched.

He indicated that the main markets for Peruvian blueberries are the United States, where half of the country's blueberry production is directed. It is followed by Europe, which concentrates 30% of production and China, which is growing rapidly (doubling volumes every year).

He added that Peru currently exports blueberries to 31 countries around the world, with India being the last market to enter (September of this year). He also said that almost all of our country's exports are by sea and less than 1% is dispatched by air.

Blueberry areas in Peru
Regarding the areas planted with blueberries in Peru, he referred that these went from 3.926 hectares in 2016 (average yield 7.3 t / ha) to 16.566 hectares in 2021 (average yield 11.2 t / ha), that is, it grew 322% .

He explained that, in 2016, 93% of the blueberry areas in our country (3.657 hectares) were located in La Libertad, 3% (120 hectares) in Lima, 2% (76 hectares) in Lambayeque, 2% (70 hectares) in Áncash, 0% (2 hectares in Ica) and 0% (2 hectares) in Cajamarca.

However, he stressed that in 2021 the production of blueberries has expanded and other regions have become important producers of this fruit such as Lambayeque, Ancash, Lima, Ica and Piura. In this regard, he said that La Libertad currently concentrates 49% of the country's blueberry areas (8.056 hectares), followed by Lambayeque with 21% (3.482 hectares), Lima with 9% (1.453 hectares), Piura 8% (1.386 hectares). ), Ica 7% (1.203 hectares), Ancash 6% (943 hectares), Moquegua 0% (3 hectares), Cajamarca 0% (2 hectares). Arequipa will begin to export this fruit.

Diversification of varieties
Regarding the blueberry varieties, Luis Miguel Vegas said that until 2020 Biloxi was the main variety installed but this year it was surpassed by Ventura.

In 2016 of the 3.926 hectares, 60% (2.366 ha) were from Biloxi; 12% (475 ha) were Rocio; 10% (409 ha) was Ventura; 6% (255 ha) was Emerald and other varieties were 11% (421 ha). This panorama can be seen until 2018 where Biloxi concentrated 62% of blueberry areas (4.747 hectares) but Ventura was already in second place with 16% of the total areas (1.246 Has).

In 2020, there is already a slight advantage for Biloxi with 5.764 hectares (37% of the total) over Ventura with 5.073 hectares (33%), and this year Ventura was already ranked as the main variety installed with 32% of the total ( 5.354 hectares), followed by Biloxi with 30% (4.980 hectares). Rocío follows with 7% of the total (1.228 ha), Emerald 6% (938 ha), and another 56 varieties 25% (4.066 ha).

The general manager of Proarándanos highlighted that in 2016 Peru had 13 different varieties of blueberries, while in this campaign there are 60 different varieties. The new varieties are: Atlasblue, Eureka, Scintilla, Mágica, Stella Blue, Kirra, Terrapin, Jupiterblue, Bella, Kestrel, Springhigh, Bonita, Sekoya Pop, Snowchaser, Sekoya Beauty, Magnifica, First Blush, Salvador, Eureka Sunrise, Arana, Biancablue, Stellar, Jewel.

“It is important to have so many varieties because there are increasingly demanding markets, there is also more global competition and the Peruvian producer is testing different varieties that are consistent with the climatic and soil variables. It is necessary to continue developing an ideal product for the different markets that we want to reach (increasingly distant) and that allows us to extend our production campaign ”, he concluded.

Data

. At the end of the 2021/2022 season, Peru would export 200 thousand tons of fresh blueberries, which would represent an increase of 23% compared to the 162.459 tons shipped in the previous season.

. At the beginning of this season, Proarándanos had planned to ship 220 thousand tons of fresh blueberries, however, this estimate would not be met due to the climate that affected the fruit.