Peru's blueberry harvest has peaked, according to one exporter, with the latest statistics through week 45 (November 6-12, 2023) showing a decline of 51% for conventional volumes and 61% in the organic ones compared to last season. Their salvation this year is the increase in prices, which will help alleviate losses, according to producers.

The sector organization ProArándanos points out that shipments have decreased by 54%, with only 53.066 tons having been shipped. Exports to its key markets of the United States, Europe and China have decreased by 60%, 55% and 38% respectively. The largest producing regions of Piura register losses until week 45: 54% in Piura, 75% in Lambayeque, 56% in La Libertad and 29% in Áncash.

As a result of the shortage and the considerable drop in volumes from Peru, prices have risen in many markets. This can help mitigate losses to some extent, according to a Peruvian producer and exporter. «At this time we cannot complain because we prefer to focus on price and not volume; We change the way we look at things so that prices stay at sustainable levels in order to have better campaigns every year. This is because the market has been able to absorb the price increase and everyone is happy, both the producer and the market, but when prices are low, perhaps the market is happy, but the producer is the one who takes the risks and loses. money. The current blueberry situation has reached the point of equilibrium, and prices compensate for the lower volume available, labor is no longer scarce and that has also made the process easy to control.

World markets do not lose sight of how Peru is evolving and how the blueberry peak is developing. "Usually, we reached the peak in October, and now it has been changed to November with the aim of continuing harvesting until the end of February and getting as close as possible to the estimated kilos for 2023/2024."

The large producer and exporter of Peru is also already concerned about the next season. «The development of the sector in Peru is lagging behind all previous projections because we did not expect this. For the 2024 season, we will have to adapt as best as possible to the weather conditions that await us after our normal summer period from January to March. Especially if the heat continues in May, June and July and if El Niño stays or not. The 2024/2025 season will be a year of challenges, such as seeing the development of the plants after the effects of El Niño this year, and secondly, adapting to the meteorological conditions for the 2024 harvest, although with a lot of speculation on the part of the sector”, concludes the producer and exporter.