"The first containers of blueberries from Chile are expected to arrive in week 51/52, which is almost three weeks later than usual. This would mean that there would only be blueberries flown in from South America up until Christmas. You would expect the prices to be a bit higher, but they certainly aren't at the moment," says the director of Fruit World.
"It's an opaque market to me. Two weeks ago I visited the PMA in New Orleans and spoke to suppliers from all South American production countries. Back then the expectation was that the second week of November could be an expensive week for blueberries," says Wout. The importer says that the frost in Chile, which mainly damaged stone fruit and kiwis, and to a lesser extent blueberries, could be a possible explanation.
At the moment Fruit World is importing blueberries from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Peru, and also offers berries from their own plantation in South Africa, of which the berries are already on boats. "I expect those prices to be along the same lines as those of the South American ones," says Wout. "I do expect the prices to go up a little if there are no blueberries arriving by sea, as the prices for the berries flown in can't be profitable for the producers at the moment."
Fruit World mainly markets the blueberries towards the Western European retail. "The largest volumes go to Scandinavia, England and Germany. We also export to Russia and have sent out the first berries to the Middle East, but these are still limited volumes,"concludes the fruit trader.
For more information:
Fruit World
IABC 5102
4814 RN Breda
T +31 (0)76 52 31 560
F +31 (0)76 52 06 314
w.vanes@fruitworld.nl
www.fruitworld.nl
For more information:
Fruit World
IABC 5102
4814 RN Breda
T +31 (0)76 52 31 560
F +31 (0)76 52 06 314
w.vanes@fruitworld.nl
www.fruitworld.nl