There has been a remarkable growth of berry trade at an international level, with demand steadily on the rise in key markets such as the United States, Europe, and Asia; however, there are a number of challenges ahead for the production and marketing of these exotic fruits, including the scarcity of water and agricultural soil and global competition causing price fluctuations.
According to Esli Recinos, representative of the Mexican firm H52, whose name stands for Harvest 52, referring to its capacity to produce berries during the 52 weeks of the year, "the company exports more than 8 million kilos of berries a year to more than 25 countries. The proximity to the United States allows delivery times of just 12 hours by land transport, while exports to Europe and the Middle East require air shipments that take up to two days to arrive."
"People are starting to understand what's good and what isn't good," says Recinos, referring to the consumer's perception of a product's freshness.
The market's growth has not been achieved with ease. One of the main handicaps is the limited access to water. Recinos says: "In the coming years, we are going to have major water shortages in many Latin American countries." This is going to have a direct impact on production, as berries require plenty of irrigation.
"Another major drawback is global competition. Spain, Morocco, Italy, and some African countries have increased their productions and are offering fruit with lower operating and logistical costs to European destinations," says Recinos.
The berry market is highly variable, with weekly price fluctuations. Depending on the season and global supply, the price of a box can vary between 5 and 16 dollars per kilo. Premium blackberry volumes have remained stable and account for 85% of the company's total berry production.
"H52 guarantees the quality of its berries through careful selection at source, strict cold chain control to avoid moisture and fungus, and the development of more resistant premium varieties, such as the Eréndira blackberry. It also implements sustainable crop management practices to reduce the use of chemicals. Each clamshell is checked to ensure it contains fewer than five pieces with defects, and handling is minimized to avoid damage. This results in fresh, firm, delicious, and high-quality fruit, all the way until the product's final destination," he says.
H52 is also committed to sustainability and social impact through the H52 Foundation. This organization provides support to homes, soup kitchens, and nursing homes in various regions of Mexico. "This is like planting a little seed. Maybe in 10 or 15 years, a child will say 'Yes, I want to study agricultural engineering'," says Recinos, highlighting the importance of inspiring new generations.
For more information:
Esli Recinos
H52
Mexico
Tel.: +52 (33) 2051 9151
[email protected]
www.H52.mx