"Raspberries are becoming hugely popular but there is a dire shortage of them," says Rob Pakvis, Euromeridian's managing director. This Dutch company has been active in the European soft fruit market for two years now. Blackberries, too, are in demand, he adds. "There aren't that many blackberries, but the demand is huge." That is why Euromeridian's parent company, Freshkampo, is increasingly focusing on testing and growing blackberry varieties as well.
That company usually focuses more on raspberries. "That's really going to grow," says Rob. He attributes the increasing demand for soft fruit to the corona crisis. "People became much health-conscious and started eating healthier. They recognize soft fruits' added value." There is still room for global expansion in blueberries, Rob notes. Though, he questions the unchecked increasing blueberry acreage worldwide. "Last summer, there was a true surplus because there's replanting everywhere."
"Growers are doing this at dozens of hectares at a time. There are new plantings in Ukraine, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. And, in Peru, growers recently replanted 500 hectares. With so much cultivation, you get overproduction at some point." The blueberry market is also changing. "Ten years ago, these were a niche product. That's certainly not so anymore. It's starting to become more and more of a bulk product. And it tops shopping lists, even ahead of bananas," Rob continues.
Red
Also, demand for soft fruit increases, especially during the festive season. "Anything red sells twice as well around Christmas. So there's much more demand for raspberries and strawberries. Blueberries are more often included in starters or main courses, and that demand also rises. So it truly is a berry Christmas." Euromeridian sells its berries in Scandinavia, the rest of Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.
They focus mainly on retail. The United Kingdom is a sales market too. There, the soft fruit grower notices definite Brexit effects. "We did serious volumes to the UK in 2019. That clearly declined last year." Large exporters to the UK have become busier, while smaller companies are exporting less. "That's because of the prices. It makes a difference when you have to apply for a EUR90 euro document for one pallet or a whole truck," Pakvis explains.
Mexico
The company grows soft fruit under the name Meridian du Maghreb in Morocco. They are considering expanding that acreage. Tunisia is also in the picture as a cultivation location. However, the lion's share of production takes place in Mexico. Euromeridian is part of the Mexican Freshkampo Group. Rob recently visited the Mexican growers, where the fields were very muddy. This usual occurrence is due to climate change, he points out.
"That's when you know something's up. It's rained an awful lot in Mexico. That, and the cold weather have slowed down production. Climate change is a genuine problem." The rain causes things like root rot and quality issues, which do not benefit production. "For example, the growing conditions are changing in the Baja California cultivation area. Last year, we had a 25% lower production there due to poorer quality."
Diversity
Still, Rob does not expect these challenging conditions to bring soft fruit cultivation to an end in Mexico. He points out the country's diverse climate. That allows for a variety of alternative growing areas. "In that respect, Mexico is in a fortunate position. Growers can move cultivation anywhere." The Freshkampo Group is also trying to respond to the changing climate with new varieties.
But that is proving difficult so far. It takes a long time to develop a new variety, says Rob. And the subtropical climate's humidity is also an obstacle. "Say you get a variety that can resist high temperatures and humidity. Then, the question is how the fruit will hold up during chilling. You sometimes find it can't handle the cold. That creates a new problem. It remains a puzzle," he concludes.
Rob Pakvis
Euromeridian bv
IABC 5102
4814 RN Breda
31 (0)76 303 0082
Rob.pakvis@freshkampo.com
www.freshkampo.com