Spain surpasses Poland in blueberry production
Poland is no longer the largest producer of blueberries in Europe. According to a recent report of the International Organization of the Blueberry, Spain now holds that honor, since its production in 2016 has increased to 28.350 tons, while Poland has remained in a few 12.000 tons, 3.500 tons less than in 2014.
Piotr Milewski, executive director of the Polish blueberry producer Milbor, explains that, although there are still many new blueberry plantations in Poland, Spanish production is developing at a much higher rate, and that a large part of that boom is due to the climate . The period of maturation in Poland is much shorter due to the cold winter, unlike weather conditions in southern Spain, which, being warmer, allow plants to grow faster and take fewer years to reach maximum productivity .
"In Spain is investing a lot in blueberries, which are grown mainly in the region of Huelva, whose climate is completely different from that of northern Europe and produces in a different window. The harvest of Huelva takes place from March to June, while that of Poland begins in July. For this reason, we do not consider Spain a competitorr ", shares Milewski.
Poor weather conditions have also claimed a part of Polish production, as strong frosts at the beginning of 2016 destroyed many outbreaks, especially those of late varieties, which interrupted their lethargy. This situation was the last straw for Polish farmers, who had not yet recovered from the drought they suffered at 2015.
"I think it will be difficult for Poland to recover its status as the largest blueberry producer in Europe. It is very difficult to overcome the productivity of Spanish blueberries, thanks to its weather conditions and recent investments. I believe that Spain will maintain the leadership in Europe in the near future and that Poland will occupy the second place, but it will be the largest European supplier of northern bush blueberries", Says Milewski.
Although it is still too early to predict how the next season will go, Milewski says that everything points to an increase in production. However, producers have yet to assess the damage caused by the heavy frosts of last week, and anything can happen between now and July.
"I perceive two main trends in the Polish market. In the first place, varieties are being changed. Growers are starting to plant less Bluecrop in favor of others, such as Duke, Chandler or Aurora. I also see less diversity in new plantations; In the past, some producers planted many different varieties and found it very difficult to control the quality, whereas now most of the new plantations are more uniform and have 3 or 4 varieties at most. They are also better organized in terms of sales", keep going.
"We still have a lot to do, but producers are starting to collaborate to sell their blueberries from a better position. More and more cooperatives are emerging to strengthen businesses, such as ours, CoRe Fresh Supply"He concludes.
Source: Freshplaza.es
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