Global outlook, local strategies for blueberries unveiled

The blueberry industry can look forward to better returns in the coming years. However, farmers are still urged to maximise efficiencies and ensure they select the right cultivars

-  Lindi Botha

Speaking at the annual Berries ZA symposium held in the Western Cape at the end of May, Louw Pienaar, a senior analyst at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, said global prices for blueberries were still projected to grow in nominal terms but flat in real terms. “Our price projection is slightly more subdued from last year due to China’s production growth. Demand overall however remains strong, despite large production expansion.”

The local blueberry industry had an exceptional year in 2023, with logistics running smoothly for the most part, while yields and quality were in farmers’ favour. Pienaar, however, said this did not necessarily make up for the losses of the previous three years, and farmers still needed to tread carefully going forward to remain sustainable.