Many changes are on the horizon in the European market for blueberries.
The blueberries industry is challenging. Although consumption has increased dramatically in recent years due to the many health benefits of this berry, production costs and increasing competition pose a constant challenge to producers worldwide.
PRODUCTION COSTS ARE RISING
In many countries, the production costs of fruits from blueberry have increased dramatically. This is due to inflation in all aspects of fruit production: fuel, energy, human labor, fertilizer and protective products. These factors make the production costs of blueberries very high.
For example, in Germany the production of 1 kg of fruit costs the grower about 3.6-4 euros/kg, in the Netherlands about 4 euros/kg, in Poland 3 euros/kg and in Ukraine 1.7-2 euros/kg.
Can growers therefore allow fruit to be sold at lower prices than at present? Of course not, because that would mean the collapse of their business.
WHAT VARIETIES ARE WORTH GROWING?
In the regions of Central and Eastern Europe, where mostly northern varieties of blueberries are grown, many growers wonder which varieties of blueberries are worth planting. Recipients demand blueberries firm and hardy, large fruits with a coating and crisp. This type is preferred by supermarkets: it is supposed to sell well and keep fresh for a long time because of its good shelf life.
Many buyers representing retail chains are currently focusing on premium fruit. Why? To minimize losses and, through high quality, mobilize customers to repeat purchases. The question then arises: what varieties of blueberry can meet the needs of modern retailers (and consumers)?
Among early varieties, the irreplaceable leader is and will be "Duke." Soon after, the blueberries season can be continued by varieties such as "Draper," "Valor," "Cargo," and "Calypso." All are characterized by large, firm fruits.
Some interesting newcomers are the 'Megasblue' and 'Titanium' varieties, as well as the new 4 varieties in the Fall Creek range (Fall Creek Collection), currently being evaluated in various regions of Europe. As a late variety, 'Last Call' is often chosen, with berries that look and taste good despite the harvest date (September).
WHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION PROFITABILITY?
It seems that in the current economic situation it is necessary to modernize blueberries plantations so that they provide maximum yield with limited inputs. So what is worth doing? Here are 7 steps to improve the economic situation of plantations at blueberries. They should be implemented as soon as possible:
1) Changing the structure of cultivated varieties and adapting them to the needs of buyers, but also to production capacities. The modern trend indicates the production of mainly large, attractive-looking, hardy and crisp-tasting berries.
2) Intensification of cultivation. Visible trends include, for example, an increase in the number of blueberry plants per unit of cultivation. Some varieties are planted every 0.7 m in rows, maintaining a distance of 3 m between rows (which gives a density of 4700 plants/ha). This has the potential to achieve full plant yield faster and thus shorten the payback period. Similar advantages can be obtained by growing blueberries in containers. Each plant receives the same growing conditions: growth is rapid and uniform.
3) Cultivation systems. With many new varieties characterized by high growth dynamics and rapid fruiting, it seems necessary to find a solution to support the shoots. Otherwise, in high winds, the sprouts may fall off. Laying down under the weight of the fruit is also not advantageous: it makes harvesting more difficult and poses a greater risk of diseases affecting the fruit.
4) Additional precautions and improvement of harvest efficiency. Additional precautions should be taken in plantations to ensure a satisfactory harvest in a given year. This applies to systems to protect plantations from frost, hail, and rain. At least part of the plantations on a single farm (optimally half) should be protected against rain and hail to ensure that the harvest is protected and harvested at the optimal time.
5) Improving harvest efficiency. This is a matter of variety, but also of cutting mode. Intensively cut bushes, where fruiting is concentrated on young shoots and at the top, are much easier to harvest and at the same time provide large, fully grown berries. They ripen relatively quickly, which helps to intensify and at the same time shorten the harvest period (3 to 4 harvests). If an employee harvests more kilograms per hour, he or she will earn more and be interested in returning to work next season. This has great advantages for the planter: an experienced employee works much more efficiently than a novice.
6) Prepare the plantation for combined harvesting. Some plantations in Western Europe are already prepared for combined harvesting. In the case of many varieties, e.g., 'Duke', 'Draper', 'Liberty', 'Valor', 'Cargo', 'Calypso', it is possible to harvest all the berries with a combine harvester (2 or 3 passes), which, after being sorted on sorting lines, can be successfully offered on the fresh fruit market. Another option is to use a harvester to pick the last remaining berries, which are sent to the processing market. At least for now, the prices offered are quite attractive for these products.
7) Implementation of additional solutions to reduce costs. A good example is the installation of photovoltaic panels. Their use during the summer provides significant energy savings needed for irrigation, cooling of fruit, or maintaining a social base for employees. In the case of companies producing blueberries (similarly to all other berry companies), the period of highest energy production from photovoltaic panels coincides with the highest energy demand. Such an investment can pay for itself very quickly.
In this regard, Hans Liekens, Value Chain and Retail Manager at Sekoya Blueberries, also made some remarks:
"If you plant blueberries, think twice: in addition to the 7 points mentioned above, you need to ask yourself whether this variety will still appeal to consumers in 5 years and no, the answer is not a variety like Elliott. Missing from the list of varieties are Sekoya Crunch and Grande, as these are high-yielding, concentrated-harvesting, very crisp (machine harvested), large berry varieties loved by consumers. In our opinion, this is the answer to revitalize local consumption in Europe with high-quality berries in the local season."
Growers at blueberries face many challenges. Industry leaders will discuss these during the11th International Conference on blueberry in Poland (March 9-10, 2023).. The format will be two days.
The first day will be held at the Mazurkas Hotel in Ożarów Mazowiecki, near Warsaw. During the conference, knowledge will be provided in 16 talks by top experts from blueberries. The second practical day will include a meeting in a plantation at blueberries. There all participants will have the opportunity to attend machinery demonstrations and bush pruning workshops.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal
