Despite feeling some heat from the Peru market, imported blueberries from Chile continues to see solid demand from consumers. “Demand has been very good for the last several weeks,” says Jim Gatter of Glassboro, NJ-based Sunny Valley International. “Blueberries have been in high demand for a long time now and seem to sell very well. Like any commodity, at times you have slow periods. But I would say it’s been very consistent throughout the season, from the beginning of October until now.”
Chilean volumes decreasing
At the same time, supplies are on the downside now from Chile notes Gatter. “Volumes are starting to decrease pretty quickly,” he says. “We are still receiving pints and half pints, but more of the product will be in half-pints from this point forward.” The product coming in this season from Chile has also been good. “The berries are medium to large and the quality and condition has been pretty good throughout most of the season,” says Gatter. “You’ll see a little tenderness in most packs but that’s very typical for this time of the year as well.”
High volume influences pricing
Meanwhile, prices have dropped somewhat due to the high volume of blueberries available. “In the first half of this season, we had to compete against blueberries from Peru which normally we don’t have to,” says Gatter. “But now they’re a new player in the game so we’ll be competing in the early part of the Chilean season.”
Peru’s increased production is consistent with what many commodity suppliers are saying. “Peru is coming on in a lot of different ways. They’re doing a lot of things now,” says Gatter. “It’s just more competition so I guess that’s why pricing wasn’t as good this season as it was in previous years. But blueberries tend to be a popular commodity to sell. It’s not a hard sale.”
High volume influences pricing
Meanwhile, prices have dropped somewhat due to the high volume of blueberries available. “In the first half of this season, we had to compete against blueberries from Peru which normally we don’t have to,” says Gatter. “But now they’re a new player in the game so we’ll be competing in the early part of the Chilean season.”
Peru’s increased production is consistent with what many commodity suppliers are saying. “Peru is coming on in a lot of different ways. They’re doing a lot of things now,” says Gatter. “It’s just more competition so I guess that’s why pricing wasn’t as good this season as it was in previous years. But blueberries tend to be a popular commodity to sell. It’s not a hard sale.”
For more information:
Jim Gatter
Sunny Valley International
Tel: 1-856-881-0200
info@sunnyint.com
http://www.sunnyint.com/