The blueberry trade has new plans after final Thursday when the U.S. Worldwide Commerce Fee (USITC) determined in a historic ruling that imported blueberries don’t trigger critical injury to the home trade.
Exporters from South America noticed the information as an enormous constructive for the trade. They spoke to FreshFruitPortal.com about how they are going to increase blueberry demand in markets such because the U.S., China and Europe and the way teamwork led to outcomes.
“We now have seen the information as very constructive, on condition that within the case of Peru, 50 p.c of exports are to the U.S. market,” Daniel Bustamente, President of ProArandanos of Peru and Company Industrial Supervisor of Agricola Cerro Prieto stated.
“What this investigation has left us with is that your entire trade has been in a position to work collectively effectively. And these classes will serve us to place extra effort into creating demand, not solely within the U.S. however worldwide.”
Felipe Silva, President of the Chilean Blueberry Committee – ASOEX stated: “The Blueberry Committee, ASOEX and SUBREI labored collectively for greater than six months on the protection and we have been in a position to current our arguments to the USITC.”
“The arguments have been strong on the numbers degree and the choice confirmed that there isn’t a injury. We’re complementary to home manufacturing.”
Product diversification and alternatives
Bustamente stated that “we’re in a stage of diversification with the Far East and increasing our distribution networks to Europe and the U.S.”.
“There are essential components, particularly social and environmental duties, that may add high quality to the export of merchandise equivalent to blueberries.”
“Exporters are making nice strides in taking good care of environmental points. As a result of excessive labor required for these crops, the social accountability endeavors are crucial,” he stated.
Silva agreed and stated: “The USITC’s determination created an enormous alternative to ascertain better ties with home producers within the U.S. Now, we should start much more coordinated work to develop the demand for such an unbelievable product.”
Among the many challenges for the Chilean trade, Silva stated they’re “varietal replacements, enhancements in chilly chain logistics, transportation and investments in selling vacation spot markets, and likewise the advance of the distribution chain to raised the standard of arrival of the Chilean product”.
Relating to the rise in worldwide blueberry demand, Bustamante stated that the “emphasis is to advertise the consumption of blueberries, all year long in all markets, benefitting native and international producers”.
Exports
Based on figures from ProArandanos, Peru exported roughly 160 thousand tons of blueberries worldwide, with half of this quantity being shipped to the U.S.
The Chilean Fruit Exporters Affiliation identified that between September 3, 2020, and February 2, 2021, Chilean fruit exports reached 843,671 tons, of which blueberries represented 11.6 p.c.
Silva stated that “Chile’s important export vacation spot is the U.S., which represents 50 p.c, adopted by Europe at 38 p.c, then Asia with 12 p.c, China and Korea being the primary locations within the latter continent”.
