China will soon overtake the US to become the world’s biggest blueberry producer and consumer. That was the view expressed by Andres Armstrong of the International Blueberry Organisation at the 2014 International Blueberry Congress, which was held in Qingdao, China last week.
In 2013 there were 20,366ha under production in China, putting the country in second place behind the US in terms of area. However, China’s production capacity is currently lower than the US and Chile as the majority of Chinese plantations are new and have yet to reach maturity.
Armstrong, who is also director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, said Chilean blueberry exports to China have been increasing by 50 per cent every year. Chile supplies the Asian country from December to March when there is no local production.
He noted that world production and consumption will continue to rise, with North America accounting for 80 per cent of the global total, although Europe and Asia have “big potential” for growth.
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