The Argentinean blueberry season has got off to an earlier-than-normal start thanks to good weather conditions and an increasing focus on early varieties.
Exports are up by 71 per cent against the first four weeks of 2011/12, according to data from the Argentinean Blueberry Committee (ABC).
Total sendings have reached 256 tonnes compared with 149 tonnes last season, the association revealed in its first crop report.
The UK market has received the bulk of the exports (or 98.6 tonnes), followed by the US whose arrivals have jumped from 0.59 tonnes last year to 56 tonnes thanks to the earlier-than-normal start.
Conversely, continental Europe has seen its arrivals decline slightly so far this season, with volume reaching 48 tonnes compared with 66.6 tonnes last season.
Sendings to Asia, Canada and other market are also up on 2011/12 figures, according to ABC, given that the crop has arrived earlier.
Overall exports from Argentina are set to contract this season, however, as the business continues to shift its focus on to the early market.
Hundreds of plantations have reportedly been taken out of production in the late-growing areas over the last two years, while earlier production has grown in northern Argentina.
The cutback comes in response to poor pricing towards the end of the season and ongoing local economic challenges which are continuing to push up costs for suppliers.
Overall, in 2012/13, ABC predicts total exports will slide by 5 per cent to around 15,000 tonnes in 2012/13, compared with 15,800 tonnes last season.
“For the last two years the varieties have been changing in Tucumán and Salta,” ABC told Americafruit.
“This is being reflected in an earlier production curve, with exports available from the start of September.”
The full report will be published in the October/November issue of Americafruit Magazine.
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