A volume-heavy blueberries market seems to have pushed prices of imported blueberries downwards. There seem to be plenty of blueberries—I think there’s more this year in terms of volume,” says Greg Mills of Doral, Fl.-based Team Produce. “But it’s a quiet market. Blueberries and blackberries are cheap.” While the imported market, brought in from Chile, is winding down and Mills anticipates should last until the first week of March, he’s lamenting the prices. “The Chilean pints are $20 and 6 oz. are $14 and you’ll probably take less if somebody gave you a big enough order,” he says. “They’re priced right to sell retail but a lot of the stores are switching from pints to 6 oz.”
Less demand for blueberries?
It’s wrapping up what Mills describes as an overall sluggish imported blueberries season. “The entire season has been slow and I don’t know what it is,” he says. “I don’t know if it’s an oversupply from Peru coming in? And there’s not a lot of demand for them. Either way, it’s unchartered waters.”
Looking ahead, Mills doesn’t anticipate anything budging as the season ends. “I think for the next couple of weeks the pricing for blueberries will probably stay where it is,” he says. “I don’t see it going up that’s for sure. It’s been really low this whole season. It’s the end of the season so hopefully next year will be better.”
For more information:
Greg Mills
Team Produce
Tel: +1 305-592-5562
greg@teamproduce.com
http://teamproduce.com/our-products/blueberries/