Committee reports slow start to season but better fruit quality compared to last year
The 2024/25 Chilean blueberry season has got off to a slower-than-expected start after a short delay compared to last season and in relation to initial forecasts.
By week 47, the accumulated volume of shipments shows a 28 per cent drop compared to the same date of the previous year and 14 per cent less than the accumulated estimate to date.
However, Andrés Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Fruit Blueberry Committee, said a recovery of this lag is expected over the next few weeks, with harvested volumes balancing out early estimates.
He added: “The good news is that the weather, although it has influenced a relatively slower ripening of the fruit, and therefore, has led to a delay to date, has benefited the quality of the blueberries that we are exporting.
“This start of the season marks a record in the quality that the Blueberry Committee verifies weekly to its associates. This, together with the increase in new varieties, has meant a very positive start to the season for national producers and exporters.
“This season, again with data to week 47 shows that 63 per cent of the kilos exported correspond to new varieties, which reflects an increase compared to the previous campaign, where exports of new varieties, at the same time, reached 50 per cent.”
This season saw the launch of a new quality seal for Committee members, highlighting their commitment to quality, varietal renewal and the development of the industry.
