South African blueberry production is experiencing double-digit growth, with a 15% increase in berry hectares planted and fruit sold globally. Pieter Zietsman, berry manager at TopFruit South Africa, emphasizes the importance of selecting the appropriate variety for each production area. He highlights the worldwide apple industry's growth at approximately 2.5% to 3% annually, underscoring the significance of the blueberry industry's expansion.
The industry is also seeing a shift towards more relaxed cultivar and marketing options, offering growers a wide range of cultivars and marketing strategies. Zietsman points out the necessity of considering cultivar selection and the timing of fruiting, with South African harvests peaking three weeks earlier than Peru, South Africa's main competitor. The Standard Southern Highbush variety, requiring fewer cold units, is predominantly planted in South Africa, sourced from the University of Georgia, IQ Berries, and New Zealand. Currently, about 90% of South Africa's berries are exported, benefiting from the shortest route from the Southern Hemisphere to UK and European markets.
Source: farmersweekly.co.za