The Argentinean Blueberry Committee (ABC) has said exports have increased significantly since it has taken sole responsibility for its promotions.
It is the first year the ABC has run a standalone European campaign to promote Argentinean blueberries in the UK, France, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
For the past three years, the ABC has been part of the Blueberries from the South campaign with Chile and Uruguay.
The new venture is designed to highlight Argentinean blueberries during their season, before Chilean blueberries come in to season in full volumes in December.
The Argentinean Blueberry Committee (ABC) has said 4,049,098 tonnes were shipped to Europe last year and the UK received 62.6 per cent of them, amounting to 2,534,735 tonnes.
The latest figures from mid-December show total European exports have reached 4,740,559t, an increase of almost 700t at the same point last year.
ABC manager Inés Peláez said it is a major increase in sendings.
“The 2011/12 season has been very successful so far. We’re expecting to ship approximately 500t more blueberries to Europe than in the previous season - a significant increase on last year’s exports,” he said.
“The UK blueberry market is worth about £140 million and it seems that UK consumers are becoming more aware of this fruit, sales grew by about 14 per cent last year.
"Research shows that 52 per cent of UK blueberry consumption is for breakfast, so we believe that there is a great opportunity to develop this and other parts of the UK market in the future”.
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