Trends In World Blueberry Production

Special Blueberry Report: Banking On Berries With Bite

Advertisement

Health interest continues to drive blueberry demand and this increasing interest is encouraging increased worldwide blueberry production. Given production trends, industry efforts to encourage new and expanded use of blueberries are needed to keep demand ahead of supply. A “blue wave” of blueberries is rapidly approaching. World blueberry acreage from 1995 to 2010 has increased from just over 50,000 acres to nearly 190,000 acres. Though most of this growth has taken place in North and South America, other regions are also catching this “wave” and either expanding their acreage or are becoming new blueberry producers.

North America accounts for an estimated 57% of worldwide highbush blueberry acreage in 2010 followed by South America at 23%, Europe at 11% and the Asian and Pacific region at 8%. Northern and Southern Africa, along with the Mediterranean region, account for the remaining 1%. Though 57% of highbush acreage is found in North America the region produces 66% of the world’s supply of highbush blueberries. South America contributes 21% to the total followed by Europe at 11% and the remaining regions supply 2% of the world’s highbush blueberries.

North America remains by far the world leader in fresh and process highbush blueberry production accounting for an estimated 57% of the world’s fresh blueberries and 85% of process. By comparison, South America supplies 26% of the world’s fresh blueberries and 4% of process; Europe accounts for 13% of fresh and 7% of process; and Asia and the Pacific region provide 3% of the world’s fresh and 4% of the process blueberries produced worldwide.

Worldwide blueberry trends show that North and South America remain the major players in the global blueberry market. North America remains by far the largest market and consumer of blueberries with room for per capita consumption growth in both fresh and process. Production is developing gradually in the European and African growing regions; and while the United Kingdom is a major blueberry consumer, the mainland European market represents considerable untapped potential for consumption growth. Asia is the home of the fastest growing markets for blueberries in the world today and though blueberry production in Asia is increasing, it is not growing as rapidly as Asian consumer demand.

Top Articles
Have a Plan For Climate Change? Why Fruit Growers Need To Act Now

Very significant growth in worldwide highbush blueberry production is expected over the next few years moving from a 400 million pound total in 2005 to a projected 1 billion pounds by 2013 and 1.4 billion pounds by the year 2015. An overview of trends in the various growing regions follows beginning with North America.

During the fifteen year period from 1995 to 2010 highbush blueberry acreage in North America increased by +55% from an estimated 71,025 acres to 110,290 acres. The Western region of the United States accounted for 40% of the highbush acreage in 2010 with an estimated total of 43,088 acres. The Southern region represented 27% of the total (29,450 acres) followed by the Midwest at 22% (25,200 acres), the Northeast at 10% (10,880 acres) and Mexico and Central America at 1% (1,672 acres).

Significant acreage growth has taken place in the Western region with a +90% increase in highbush blueberry acreage since 2005. British Columbia has the most highbush blueberry acreage in this region at an estimated total of 21,020 acres in 2010 followed by Washington at 8,820 acres; Oregon at 7,458 acres and California at 5,790 acres. Acreage in the Southern region is up +62% since 2005 with Georgia the acreage leader in 2010 at an estimated 12,800 acres followed by North Carolina (6,800 acres); Florida (3,950 acres); Mississippi and Louisiana (3,850 acres); Texas (1,050 acres); and Arkansas (550 acres). A small amount of other southern states account for the remaining 450 acres.

Michigan remains the state with the most blueberry acreage at an estimated 22,750 acres in 2010. Indiana accounts for 950 acres in 2010 with miscellaneous other Midwestern states accounting for the remaining balance of 1,500 acres in the region. The Northeast region had the lowest amount of acreage growth during this period with an increase of +12% since 2005. New Jersey has the majority of highbush blueberry acreage in the region at an estimated 8,120 acres followed by Eastern Canada at 1,560 acres and New York at 1,200 acres.

Though from a low base, Mexican and Central American highbush blueberry acreage has increased nearly nine fold since 2005 moving from 180 acres in 2005 to an estimated 1,672 acres in 2010. Southern Mexico accounts for the majority of this acreage at an estimated 1,350 acres followed by Northern Mexico at 295 acres and Guatemala at an estimated 27 acres.

Given the growth in acreage, it is not a surprise that highbush blueberry production in North America increased by +18% from 2008 to 2010 from 416 million pounds to 491 million pounds. Looking at historical figures, North American highbush blueberry production has increased nearly eight fold over the past 40 years from 61 million pounds in 1970 to a total of 491 million pounds in 2010. A crop of 500 million pounds is currently estimated for 2011.

For a look around the world, go to the next page.

Blueberries Around The World

South America, another major factor in the global highbush blueberry industry, has also experienced significant growth during this time period. South American highbush blueberry acreage has increased by +41,500 acres from 1995 to 2010 from just 2,500 acres fifteen years ago to an estimated 44,000 acres in 2010. Since 2005 acreage has more than doubled with Chile accounting for 73% of the estimated acreage in 2010 (32,250 acres) and Argentina accounting for 22% of the total (9,500 acres). Acreage is also found in Uruguay (1,850 acres in 2010); Brazil (300 acres); Peru (80 acres) and Colombia (20 acres).

Production is also on the rise in this region with a +33% increase from 2008 to 2010 moving from 115 million pounds to 153 million pounds. Given the young plantings in South America, this figure is expected to continue to increase in the coming years.

European production, though not as large as in North and South America, is also growing as is the amount of highbush blueberries being planted in the region. European highbush blueberry acreage has increased five fold from 1995 to 2010 from an estimated 4,000 acres in 1995 to the current estimate of nearly 21,000 acres in 2010. Southern and and Western European acreage has more than doubled since 2005 from 1,334 acres to an estimated 3,970 acres. Spain holds the majority of acreage in this region at an estimated 2,600 acres in 2010 followed by France at 890 acres and Portugal at 480 acres. Acreage in the Central and Northern European region increased by +84% during the five year period from an estimated 4,448 acres in 2005 to 8,195 acres in 2010. Germany is the major factor in this region with an estimated 5,300 acres of highbush blueberries in 2010 followed by the Netherlands (1,180 acres); Italy (680 acres); the United Kingdom (670 acres); Austria (125 acres); Sweden (90 acres); Denmark (60 acres); Switzerland (55 acres) and Ireland (35 acres).

Acreage in Eastern Europe has also more than doubled since 2005 from an estimated 3,954 acres in 2005 to an estimated 8,615 acres in 2010. Poland has the most highbush blueberry acreage in this region at an estimated total of 7,800 acres in 2010; followed by the Baltic nations at 335 acres; Ukraine at 190 acres; Romania at 130 acres and a number of other miscellaneous Eastern European nations accounting for the remaining 160 acres.

In total, European highbush blueberry acreage has more than doubled from 2005 to 2010 (from an estimated 9,736 acres to 20,780 acres) with Poland accounting for 38% of European acreage in 2010 followed by Germany at 26% and Spain at 13%. European production has increased from an estimated 56 million pounds in 2008 to 81 million pounds in 2010 which represents a +44% increase.

The Mediterranean region, along with Northern and Southern Africa, does not represent a tremendous amount of blueberry acreage or production; however the interest in blueberries and the growth of the blueberry industry is in evidence here as well. Highbush blueberry acreage has more than doubled in this region since 2005 from 740 acres to an estimated 1,796 acres. The major producer in this region is South Africa which represented 62% of the acreage in 2010 (1,120 acres), however Morocco is making its presence felt with an estimated 450 acres in 2010 after not having any identified acreage in 2005. Turkey has the third most acreage in the region at 150 acres in 2010 followed by Egypt and Israel at an estimated 35 acres each. A small number of other countries round out the balance of acreage at an estimated 6 acres total. Highbush blueberry production in this region increased from 2.4 million pounds in 2008 to 4.5 million pounds in 2010. South Africa accounted for 64% of production in 2008 and for 51% of production in 2010. During this period Morocco moved from 1% of total production in 2008 to 40% of the total in 2010.

Finally we have the Asian and Pacific highbush blueberry growing regions. Over the past five years Asia has moved from representing 40% of the acreage in the region to an estimated 80% of the acres. The total highbush blueberry acreage in Asia has increased more than six fold since 2005. Asian acreage increased from 1,754 acres in 2005 to an estimated 11,135 acres in 2010. China has the most acreage in this region at 8,645 acres in 2010 (up from an estimated 642 acres in 2005). However, even with this tremendous growth in Chinese acreage, demand outstrips supply for the foreseeable future. Japan is second to China in total acreage at an estimated 2,230 acres; followed by South Korea at 180 acres and India with an estimated 80 acres. Overall, Asian highbush blueberry production has increased by +50% from 2008 to 2010 from 8 million pounds to an estimated 12 million pounds.

Highbush blueberry acreage in the Pacific Region has increased by +23% since 2005 moving from an estimated 2,434 acres in 2005 to 2,982 acres in 2010. Australia accounts for an estimated 1,530 acres in 2010 followed by New Zealand at 1,450 acres and the Philippines at 2 acres. Production in this region increased by +15% from 2008 to 2010 moving from 8.8 million pounds to 10.1 million pounds.

In total, Asian and Pacific Region production increased from 17.0 million pounds in 2008 to an estimated 22.5 million pounds in 2010. During this timeframe Asia went from representing 48% of the production in this region to 55% and Asian acreage increased from 42% of the total in this region to 79% of the total.

In summary, worldwide highbush blueberry acreage has increased by an estimated +83% from 2005 to 2010. During this period North American acreage has increased by an estimated +53% and South American acreage has more than doubled. As of 2010, North and South America account for 81% of the world’s highbush blueberry acreage.

Worldwide highbush blueberry production has increased by an estimated +24% since 2008 from 607 million pounds (390 million pounds fresh and 217 million pounds process) to 753 million pounds (529 million pounds fresh and 224 million pounds process). North and South America account for an estimated 86% of world highbush production in 2010 with North American producing an estimated total of 491 million pounds (up from 416 in 2008); South America producing 153 million pounds (up from 115 million pounds); Europe producing 81 million pounds (up from 56 million pounds); Asia and the Pacific Region producing 23 million pounds (up from 17 million pounds); and the Mediterranean and African Regions producing 5 million pounds (up from 3 million pounds in 2008)

Given growth projections, our industry will need to significantly increase per capita consumption by the year 2015 and attract new blueberry users both here at home and abroad. There are market opportunities. Per capita consumption in the United States has room to grow; we have underdeveloped markets here in the U.S.; there is a limited volume currently allocated to offshore markets, but excellent market prospects overseas especially in China, India and South Korea; blueberries continue to be featured as a key ingredient in new product development; and the blueberry “health halo” remains a purchase driver. The key will be to continue to field well designed and implemented market promotion efforts leveraging our “health halo” to help us stay ahead of the “blue wave.”

0