California berry grower shares outlook for Chilean blueberry season
The Packer recently submitted questions about the upcoming Chilean blueberry season to Nader Musleh, director of International Business Development at California Giant Berry Farms.
Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Packer: How does your Chilean blueberry supply compare with last season?
Musleh: The blueberry season in Chile looks promising. We have been working closely with our suppliers to ensure an excellent product. In recent years, we have replanted hectares using the latest genetics, which has yielded great results. We anticipate a season where fruit condition will be exceptional, though the overall volume may be slightly lower. Additionally, we have benefited from good winter rains, which have improved water supply, addressing a challenge that Chile has faced in recent seasons.
In terms of timing, the season is proceeding normally. We have already started receiving product from Chile to offset the lower production in Peru. We expect peaks in blueberry arrivals in the U.S. towards late December and January, and the volume could potentially extend until March or April — weather permitting.
Do you pack the blueberries in the U.S.? To what ports do you bring the Chilean blueberries to the U.S.? Do you expect any difficulties with container shipments to the U.S.?
This year, we opened a new blueberry packing plant centrally located [in] Santa Maria, Calif., near Port Huneme, designed for local and imported products. This packhouse boasts the latest sorting and packing technology. We anticipate receiving a majority of the Chilean product on the West Coast. We believe that packing fruit in the U.S. offers significant advantages. Recent seasons have demonstrated that this provides us with substantial benefits and greater packaging flexibility, resulting in higher returns for our producers and customers.
Will you have organic blueberries from Chile?
Yes, a significant portion of our production in Chile focuses on organic production. This source has become the primary supplier of organic fruit during the winter season in the U.S.
Any other thoughts about this year's Chilean blueberry season?
Despite potential volume reductions due to production and process improvements, we firmly believe that this Chilean blueberry season will be excellent.
