Less than a decade ago, Peru did not export many blueberries. But the country has now managed to position itself as a major player in the global market, and become the world\u2019s leading blueberry exporter.<\/p>\n
28%<\/p>\n
\u201cThe growth has been truly exponential and a lot of labour has been generated along the way,\u201d said Alfredo Lira Chirif, an agronomist and general manager of Agr\u00edcola Cerro Prieto, one of the main blueberry exporters in La Libertad, a department in the country\u2019s north that is responsible for more shipments than any other, according to the Association of Blueberry Producers of Peru (Proar\u00e1ndanos).<\/p>\n
Nationwide, the association estimates that the 2022-23 season will close with shipments of 285,000 tonnes, a 28% increase on last year\u2019s output.<\/p>\n
But as the Peruvian blueberry industry continues to expand, it faces increasing challenges to remain sustainable, chief among them confronting the issue of water scarcity, as well as price reductions due to increased supply and insufficient labour.<\/p>\n
The continued growth of the Peruvian blueberry contrasts with the situation in neighbouring Chile \u2013 its main competitor in the region. Between January and August 2022 alone, there was a 6% drop in exports compared to the previous period, according to its Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA).<\/p>\n
The two nation\u2019s differing fortunes have partly arisen due to logistical difficulties Chilean producers have faced in recent times, according to Christian Seydewitz, senior vice-president for Chile of the shipping company Hapag Lloyd. \u201cThere is a serious shortage of space on ships, which is driving the increase in prices and the current scenario,\u201d he told Portalfruticola<\/a>.<\/p>\n But various other factors have allowed Peru to rise to overtake its southern neighbour and become the world\u2019s leading exporter of fresh blueberries. Initially, there was an attractive commercial window that the country identified in the northern hemisphere, particularly in the American market.