When imports from Peru and Chile begin to fall to almost zero, the Indian blueberry market begins to be supplied by domestic production, he explains. Karan Parashar, director of Exotic Imports Pvt. Ltd"Peru has so far completed 80% of its production; only some fruit remains on mountain farms. Chile sends the majority of the berries to Europe, since quality issues limit shipments to India. High air freight costs from Peru make imports unfeasible, so domestic production must fill the supply gap. Farms in northern and central India have already begun harvesting, and the season will last until March or April.

According to Karan, “Indian growers use varieties with low or no chilling requirements. Eureka comes from Mountain Blue Orchards, while Fall Creek supplies Biloxi, Emerald, and Bianca. Planasa supplies the M series, which includes Manila, Malibu, Manera, and Madeira. Domestic production this season is expected to be between 300 and 500 tons, a volume exceeding the 400 to 500 pallets that are imported monthly into India.”

Prices for domestic varieties are currently on par with those of imported fruit. “Grade A fruit is selling for between US$15,30 and US$16,39 per kg, and trays are going for US$22 per 1,5 kg. Peak production will reach the markets in 8-10 weeks, at which point prices will drop to between US$8,70 and US$11 per kg. The January-April period is relatively short, so producers and distributors must act cautiously to balance supply and market prices.”

Karan points out that India exports some to the Gulf blueberries grown in the country. “Farms in Madhya Pradesh produce export-quality fruit, which is shipped to the UAE and Dubai. Growers in Uttarakhand also contribute to exports. The first patented Sekoya crops will also debut this year, after licensed growers planted them last year in northern and central India. Overall, quality remains strong so far, given that most farms are only on their second or third harvest.”

Karan notes that raspberry production is also growing alongside that of blueberries"This growth is driven by the import ban, as demand far exceeds supply. Open-field raspberry cultivation predominates, although some volume also comes from greenhouses. New raspberry farms are emerging in northern, southern, and central India, and the fruit quality is approaching that of Europe."

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Los Indian blueberries They avoided problems last year because the main producers exported their surpluses instead of flooding the domestic market, says Karan. “This ensured adequate supply and stable prices. Demand for domestic berries is growing, and sudden volume spikes from new, smaller farms still pose a risk of sharp price drops, as the season is short, from January to March or April, leaving markets little time to adjust. Last season’s discipline made things easier, and we expect the same caution this year,” he concludes.