For the first time this season, blueberries are being stored successfully in controlled atmosphere in the UK in order to extend the Chilean season. “Chile is having a good year, and for the first time, we have been buying earlier to store fruit under CA in order to stretch the season and release it on a week-by-week basis,” said Scott Woolford of The Summerfruit Company.
Spanish fruit is forecast to come on stream just after Easter and in the meantime good availability from Florida is supplementing Chilean supplies. Prices will continue to be strong both to cover the cost of CA storage and to keep sales in check until Spanish arrives in volume, said Woolford. The US market will also become busier and more fruit will be available for Europe encouraging promotional pricing in early May.
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