Blueberries are now considered one of the true “gems” of global agro-exports. The growth in international demand, the positioning of the product as a superfruit, and the expansion of cultivated areas have made it a cornerstone for many producing countries. However, behind every exported kilo lie hidden losses, difficult to quantify, but which cost companies millions of euros in reduced returns.
Main challenges during harvest
1. Unskilled labor
Blueberry harvesting cannot be mechanized: it requires precision, experience, and care. An inexperienced picker can easily damage the fruit, leave ripe berries on the plant, or pick unripe fruit, compromising overall quality.
2. Quality issues
A shipment rejected at destination due to softness, presence of mold, uneven ripening, or contamination can represent a total loss: up to 100% of the consignment may turn into an economic setback.
3. Inaccurate volume projections
Misestimating quantities has direct consequences: unfulfilled commercial commitments, excessive labor costs, or conversely, lack of staff during peak moments, with knock-on effects on logistics.
4. Costly and delayed supervision
Many companies invest in evaluators and field inspectors, but corrective action often comes too late to prevent damage.
5. Inefficient logistics
Any delay from the field to the packing house reduces shelf life: fruit dehydration and decay affect both commercial life and end-customer satisfaction.
Where are the biggest financial losses?
Three areas emerge as the most critical:
Insufficient fruit quality: a single rejection at destination can turn into a financial disaster.
Errors in harvest forecasting, leading to excessive labor costs and logistical inefficiencies.
Lack of field traceability, which makes it impossible to identify the source of problems in real time.
Technology as a strategic ally
Digitalization and smart farming tools are already proving how it is possible to drastically reduce these inefficiencies:
Artificial intelligence-based fruit counting
Drones and mobile cameras estimate the number of berries on plants, enabling accurate forecasting and better planning of resources and commercial commitments.Apps and QR codes for traceability
Georeferenced crates and baskets with QR codes make it possible to know exactly who picked which fruit and from which plot. This allows immediate quality control and the ability to promptly correct harvesting errors.Sensors and predictive analytics
Climate data and forecasting models support decision-making on the optimal harvest window, reducing the risk of under- or overripe fruit.Connected logistics (IoT)
Monitoring the cold chain and transport times generates alerts in case of unplanned stops or breaks in temperature control.Integrated management platforms
A single software that combines production forecasts, workforce status, lot quality, logistics, and reporting enables fast and coordinated decision-making.
Conclusions
The real bottleneck to profitability in blueberries is not water, agricultural inputs, or international prices. The greatest enemy is harvesting inefficiency and the lack of real-time information.
Companies that understand this scenario and adopt technological solutions will no longer be competing on marginal fertilizer or pesticide costs. Instead, they will safeguard millions by avoiding rejections, extra costs, and those “invisible losses” that still erode a large part of the sector’s profits today.
Source: La cosecha de arándanos: ¿dónde realmente se pierde el dinero? (Cesar Urrutia)
Photo: Oragro
