Coming off an underwhelming South American season, blueberries are now transitioning

Overview of blueberries in the U.S. market, complemented by charts from Agronometrics. Original published on March 25, 2024.

Blueberry production is moving from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. Chilean production will be wrapping up this week, following a period of low volume for Peruvian fruit. The industry is moving up north with Mexican production being on the rise and U.S. domestic production starting out of Florida. “Volumes in the Sunshine State ae expected to increase steadily and reach full capacity by early April,” says Adriana Fortune, Sales Manager with Gourmet Trading Company.

Unexpected outcomes for Chile

“Reflecting on the South American blueberry season, it can be aptly described as underwhelming,” Fortune said. “Regrettably, a surge in volume from Chile occurred at a time when the industry anticipated its conclusion.” Due to the prevailing assumption that Chile wouldn’t sustain production until February, there was a lack of ads planned for that month, which made it difficult to move the rise in volume. “The market was caught off guard.” What also played a significant role in the lack of demand was the perception of quality. “Last year’s subpar quality left a lasting impression on many retailers, leading to a lack of trust in this year’s production,” Fortune commented. While the overall quality improved this year, some weeks still witnessed a less-than-ideal quality. “Although the first half of the Chilean season held great promise and expectations, the unexpected surge with low pricing disrupted the trajectory, resulting in a disappointing second half,” she added.

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

Seamless transition

With Chile wrapping up, focus is now transitioning to Florida and Gourmet Trading is thrilled to kick off the domestic season. While the current domestic volume is limited, significant increases are anticipated for the next seven days. “By the time we move into the latter part of April and into May, we’ll witness ramped-up production not only in Georgia and California, but also in other local regions.” The coordinated effort from all growing regions together will ensure a seamless transition. “We expect uninterrupted supply, contingent upon favorable conditions from Mother Nature,” Fortune shared.

On the demand side, there’s still a lot of interest for offshore blueberries. However, Peru’s production shortage and consequently the lower availability this winter, has underscored the market’s growth trajectory, indicating robust consumer demand for blueberries,” Fortune said. She expects the impact of this scarcity may potentially bolster the demand for domestically grown blueberries as consumers seek alternative sources to meet their needs. “We already see prices steadily rising.” With domestic volume ramping up in April and May, an increase in promotional activities is expected for these months, enhancing market presence, and driving customer engagement. It is Gourmet Trading’s goal to collaborate closely with their customers, ensuring to deliver accurate information and facilitate the implementation of promotions that meet their needs. “We’re fully prepared and enthusiastic to kickstart this domestic season,” Fortune finished.

The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.

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