Chilean blueberry export volumes have continued to surpass expectations for this season’s campaign thanks to favourable weather in the country, which has enabled the country to ship 6 per cent more fruit to date than the 2009/10 season.
Although production volumes are beginning to decrease in line with normal seasonal expectations, Chile’s blueberry growers exported 3,154 tonnes of fruit during week seven of the year (14-20 February), compared with a forecast 3,006 tonnes.
This achievement has continued the pattern of the campaign as a whole, with the good weather aiding a much improved season in contrast to the previous weather-disrupted campaign, which was delayed by two weeks.
In fact, the accumulated export total for the year has now reached 60,174 tonnes, compared with the pre-season forecast of 56,634 tonnes.
A spokesperson for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association said: “We’re having a very good season, with a good climate and good temperatures. The blueberries coming into the (European) supermarkets at the moment are good quality and have good sizing.”
In terms of export markets, the US remains Chile’s number one destination for blueberries, receiving 2,544 tonnes of the volume produced in week seven, while 610 tonnes were shipped to Europe.
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