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Global blueberry industry expansion and challenges

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2026-09-09 09:10 UTC → 2026-09-09 13:12 UTC · added removed

The global blueberry industry continues to expand, with production reaching 2.33 million tonnes in 2025 and projections suggesting it could exceed 3.36 million tonnes by 2029. This growth is driven by maturing plantations in regions like Peru, which produced approximately 407,800 tonnes in the 2025/26 season, and increasing contributions from China and the Asia-Pacific region. Global fresh blueberry exports have grown by 154% over seven years, now exceeding US$7.1 billion, ranking billion. As U.S. domestic production declines, Peru is significantly increasing its market share. In week 33 of 2026, Peru shipped approximately 12,000 metric tons, up from 8,000 metric tons during the fruit among top global exports behind bananas, citrus, apples, table grapes, avocados, and kiwifruit. same period the previous year. This surge in supply is intensifying competition. In Germany, domestic cultivation accounted for only about 17,000 tonnes in 2025, leaving approximately 80% of consumption to imports. Meanwhile, Polish producers face difficulties due attributed to a fragmented farming structure, with average farm sizes of only 1.4 hectares hindering investments in automation younger fields and cooling technology. Consequently, some producers are shifting focus from volume to earlier-producing varieties. However, experts warn that sustained heat could negatively impact fruit quality, such as firmness size, and shelf life, and that El Niño-related conditions may cause supply to meet retailer demands. tighten unexpectedly between December and January. In the United States, the regulatory landscape remains stable following a July 2026 referendum. The USDA reported that 58% of voters—representing 84% of the total volume—approved the continuation of the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order. Administered by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, the program will continue to focus on research and generic promotion to boost domestic and international consumption. Regional challenges persist, particularly persist elsewhere, such as in South Africa, where producers manage extreme climate volatility. Despite historic flooding in the Western Cape in May volatility, and record-low rainfall in July, national export forecasts remain stable at approximately 25,000 metric tons. While some farms near mountain catchments saw crop losses exceeding 70%, the impact has been largely localized. However, the industry continues to navigate rising operational hurdles, including infrastructure damage and a nearly 40% increase Poland, where fragmented farming structures hinder investments in local fuel costs. automation and cooling technology.

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  1. 2026-09-09 13:12 UTC Global blueberry industry expansion and challenges
  2. 2026-09-09 09:10 UTC Global blueberry industry expansion and challenges
  3. 2026-09-04 07:42 UTC Global blueberry industry expansion and challenges

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