Exports of US-grown blueberries were strong this spring in spite of the global recession, with solid performance recorded to date across the European Union (EU), according to Brian Bocock, vice-president of sales for US-based berry grower-distributor Naturipe Farms.
“Business so far has been fairly good,” Mr Bocock told Fruitnet.com. “The UK is still the main deal but markets on the Continent, such as Germany, France, and Italy, are showing some increases. Spain is also starting to develop as an export market for us as consumers there are becoming more familiar with blueberries as their domestic production increases.”
Along with Spain, France, Germany, the UK and Poland all have developed important production bases for blueberries in recent years, with volume expected to increase significantly over the next several seasons.
“Our window of opportunity in Europe is generally from late March into June these days,” added Mr Bocock. “However, the Spanish deal is starting to kick in by the third or fourth week in May now, so we may see the spring window further contracting in the future. There is usually a second export window in the autumn with fruit from Michigan and the Pacific Northwest but it all depends on the weather in Europe as well as in the US.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the EU imported just under 535 tonnes of fresh blueberries during 2008, down by roughly 24 per cent on the previous year.
The UK was by far and away the largest market last year, absorbing 96 per cent of the volume (or 511 tonnes).
