The blueberry boom is far from over.
A new 12-page report from Rabobank looks at continuing growth in blueberry demand and production in global markets.
“Going forward, industry trends include: the probability of declining unit prices for Peruvian exports, stagnation in Chilean production, and an increase in substrate-grown berries in Mexico,” a summary of the report said.
Facing increasing input costs, labor issues and logistical challenges, blueberry suppliers are being pushed to become more productive and efficient, according to the report.
“The adoption of improved cultivars and technologies such as the use of substrates, protected culture and mechanical harvesting will help growers solve a number of supply-side challenges,” the summary said.
The report, authored by Rabobank analysts David Magaña and Gonzalo Salinas, noted that Europe and China are significant growth markets for blueberries, with both expected to register triple-digit growth in per-capita availability in the next decade.
Still rising
The report said harvested U.S. blueberry acreage in selected states has doubled over the past 15 years. Fresh blueberry production in the U.S. has been growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3% over the past 10 years and at a rate of 7% over the past 20 years.
Supercharged by imports, blueberry availability in the U.S. has grown even faster, with 9% average annual growth in the past 10 years and 11% average annual growth over the past 20 years, the report said.
Since 2016, the authors said U.S. blueberry imports have outpaced exports.
USDA reports the value of U.S. blueberry imports totaled $1.22 billion in 2021, up 24% from $981 million in 2020 and almost double the $620 million in 2015.
U.S. blueberry imports will continue to grow in the U.S. offseason, the Rabobank authors said, potentially setting new records every year for the next few seasons.
