Exports up 7 per cent on the same period last year, according to the Chilean Blueberry Committee
Chilean blueberry exports have picked up since the start of the year, with 11,767 tonnes exported in week 2 according to the latest crop report from the Chilean Blueberry Committee. Exports to date stand at 55,946 tonnes, an increase of 7 per cent over the year-earlier period, but 18 per cent down on the same period of 2022/23.
Shipments of organic blueberries reached 1,855 tonnes in week 2 and 6,759 tonnes for the season so far, representing 12 per cent of total shipments.
The top three varieties exported were Legacy, Duke and Blue Ribbon, accounting for 45 per cent, 14 per cent and 12 per cent of shipments respectively.
Continental Europe continues to absorb the lion’s share of shipments, with a 41 per cent share. The US has taken around 35 per cent of total shipments so far this season. South Korea and the UK are in third and fourth place, with 8 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.
Assessing the current production campaign, Julia Pinto, technical manager of the Chilean Blueberry Fruit Committee said there was plenty of fruit of good quality, size and consistency. “However, the recent heat waves, which affected the various productive areas, such as Ñuble, Maule and BioBío, caused impacts on varieties that are more sensitive to high temperatures,” she noted.
Pinto’s comments were made after the committee’s two recent Blueberry Field Days, at which growers and exporters had the chance to evaluate the performance of new varieties. The first Field Day was held at Agrícola Sauerburger’s Alaska Farm in Los Angeles and the second at Agrícola Agrotrigo in La Unión.
Information was provided was for the following varieties: Loreto Blue, Luna Blue, Arabella Blue, Megasblue and Titanium. Regarding the characteristics of the fruits, Pinto explained that in general they are varieties that require a high level of cold, and have a high firmness and good calibre.
“There are differences between them, for example, in the calibre and its distribution; also different shapes, for example, Arabella Blue is rounder than Loreto. Some varieties tend to have problems with firmness due to high temperatures. Therefore, that is what we are evaluating along with the Brix, acidity, among other factors,” Pinto said.
Overall, Pinto noted that the varieties had performed well and should continue to be evaluated. She added that trials were also underway on varieties from the University of Florida, and that more varieties would be incorporated in the trial farms in the future.
