Peruvian imports on the rise

As growers in Argentina increase their shipments of blueberries, their counterparts in Peru are doing the same.

In fact, this year, Peru's volume of blueberries exported to North America is expected to be more than double last year's shipments, said Jim Roberts, vice president of sales for Naturipe Farms LLC, Salinas, Calif.

But the Peruvian berries won't all hit at once.

"Even though we're seeing sizable increases in tonnage, it's extended over a pretty long season," Roberts said.

Peru started shipping blueberries in August and will ship into February, spanning the Argentinean and Chilean seasons.

The program has been "a nice supplement" to existing supplies and helps fill a window from September through December, when demand can be heavy, he said.

The Perishable Specialist Inc., a Miami-based broker, handles blueberries from Peru as well as Argentina, so the company stands to gain from increased shipments of Peruvian berries, even if they cut into Argentina's exports, said Frank Ramos, president and CEO.

"I'm picking up a lot of that volume," he said.

As year-round demand for the product picks up, more growers are transitioning to blueberries from other crops every season, he said.

"I see it as a plus for the industry," he added, as growers try to meet consumer demand for blueberries.

Nader Musleh, executive director of the blueberry division for California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonville, Calif., attributes the burst in Peruvian volume to new plantings by major growers.

"Peru is a good place to grow blueberries," he said.

He expects Peru to be "a very decent player" in the blueberry deal within two to three years, with a lot of product to ship.

Added volume likely will result in more stable prices and enable growers to ship larger pack sizes, Musleh added.

Currently, tight supplies during the fall tend to prompt higher prices, he said.

California Giant has imported some blueberries from Peru in a trial program and plans to import even more this season, he said.

Since growing costs tend to be lower in Peru than in Argentina, Peruvian growers can make more money on their exports, he said.

Quality and flavor are similar to Argentina's blueberries, he added.

Miami-based Crowley Maritime Corp. Inc., which helps clients import blueberries from Peru and Argentina, has seen an increase in shipments from Peru in recent years, said Nelly Yunta, vice president.

"I think this will be an issue for Argentina," she said.

Peru started shipping blueberries to North America three years ago with very limited volume, she said, and has picked up the pace every year.

"I think this year is going to be quite strong, weather permitting," she said.

There's been talk about the "blue wave" hitting for more than five years, Roberts said.

"Sure enough, blueberry production over the last five years worldwide has doubled, yet prices have gotten a little bit stronger because we continue to see strong demand and increasing consumption, particularly in North America, but even worldwide," he said.

Peru plays an important role in filling a fall supply gap as consumption and consumer demand increase, he said.

"Most people understand that we're in a worldwide, global market, and consumption has done a really good job of keeping up with overall production," he said.

But not all of the new production is destined for the U.S.

"Year in and year out, we're seeing a bigger percentage of that fruit go to other markets," Roberts said.

Markets like Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and even India also are seeing increased popularity of blueberries.

Growing regions like Peru are a "nice fit" for the growing global demand, Roberts said.

"It's not just about the U.S. anymore."