Over the last two weeks, the berry industry has shown a clear dual trend: stronger pressure on commercial planning, logistics and supply windows (Peru, Zimbabwe, India), alongside faster progress in varieties and automation (Mexico, Spain, Türkiye). At the same time, consumption signals are strengthening, with blueberries gaining relevance in official statistics and retail price monitoring across Europe.
International trade and logistics
Peru: the blueberry sector shifts from volume growth to demand management
Peru’s blueberry industry is moving into a more mature phase: the priority is no longer just adding hectares and volume, but managing timing, quality and logistics to protect value. The article highlights an eight-week production “plateau” with more stable weekly exports, designed to reduce shipment peaks that pressure prices and overload destination logistics. The strategic focus is increasingly on commercial coordination across the export chain.
Source: FreshPlaza.com
Publication date: 20 Feb 2026
Peru–US: 440 tons of blueberries moved to New York on charter flights
This case shows how critical logistics has become for berries: during Peru’s peak window, regular airfreight capacity was insufficient, so four B747 freighters were used to move 440 tons to New York over two weeks. The operation responded to U.S. retail and distribution needs for fruit to arrive within 24–36 hours after harvest, underlining how supply reliability and speed now directly shape market access and program performance.
Source: HortiDaily.com
Publication date: 18 Feb 2026
Zimbabwe: blueberry exports expand on an off-season supply strategy
Zimbabwe is strengthening its position in global blueberry trade by targeting the May–October window, when output from several major origins is limited. The article links this advantage to high-altitude production and precision irrigation, helping suppliers reach premium markets such as Europe and China. The key takeaway is that competitiveness is not only about volume, but also about being present in the right market window with reliable quality.
Source: FreshPlaza.com
Publication date: 20 Feb 2026
Production, varieties and crop management
Mexico: new genetics and hydroponics improve blueberry yields and quality
Mexico’s blueberry sector continues a strong varietal replacement cycle while rapidly shifting toward hydroponic production. The goal is to lift yield, fruit size and postharvest performance, supported by the country’s proximity to the U.S. market. The article also notes that supply windows between origins are becoming tighter, which makes adapted genetics and technical crop management increasingly important to defend margins and maintain commercial positioning.
Source: HortiDaily.com
Publication date: 19 Feb 2026
Türkiye: growers expect blueberry output to rise by 25–30%
Turkish blueberry growers are forecasting stronger production thanks to maturing plantings, higher density and improved agronomic practices. At the same time, the article stresses weather risks such as late frosts and heavy rainfall, plus the mitigation strategies used in response: frost protection, drainage and integrated crop management. The sector outlook is positive, but clearly tied to the ability to stabilize yields under increasingly variable climate conditions.
Source: AGF.nl
Publication date: 20 Feb 2026
Southern Spain: “Tropical Blue” shows strong early performance in commercial fields
Commercial visits in Huelva report uniform fruit development and stable quality for the Tropical Blue variety across different production systems. The main strengths highlighted are earliness, firmness and shelf behavior, which are essential for premium early market slots. The article also points to summer “pinching” practices to concentrate ripening, potentially reducing picking rounds and improving labor planning—an increasingly important issue across the berries industry.
Source: AGF.nl
Publication date: 16 Feb 2026
Innovation and supply-chain organization
Mechanization: fresh-market berry harvesting seen as increasingly automated within 5–15 years
The FineField interview outlines a clear direction: mechanical harvesting for fresh berries is no longer just experimental and may scale quickly, driven by labor costs and return on investment. The company also links future adoption to breeding work on varieties better suited to automated harvesting. The strategic message is strong: future competitiveness in berries will depend on co-designing machines and genetics, not treating them as separate decisions.
Source: FreshPlaza.it
Publication date: 19 Feb 2026
Morocco: “Morocco Data Club” launched to improve blueberry export transparency
The initiative launched at Fruit Logistica is designed to collect and share structured, anonymized weekly export data among industry participants. For Morocco’s blueberry sector—now a key supplier into Europe during winter and early spring—better visibility on flows can improve operational and commercial decisions. The broader signal is important: leading origins are investing not only in production, but also in shared market intelligence to manage fast-moving seasons.
Source: FreshPlaza.com
Publication date: 18 Feb 2026
Consumption and market signals
Spain: blueberries added to the national consumer price index basket
Blueberries entering Spain’s CPI basket is both symbolic and structural: it suggests the product has reached a stable role in household consumption. The index update reflects current purchasing habits and confirms the growing relevance of berries in mainstream food spending. For the sector, this supports the view that blueberries are no longer only a premium niche, but an increasingly established retail category with broader consumer penetration.
Source: FreshPlaza.com
Publication date: 19 Feb 2026
Dutch online retail: blueberries move higher, strawberries remain more volatile
The AGF/Supermarktscanner monitoring shows rising average online blueberry prices in Dutch supermarkets, with visible differences between chains and some assortment gaps. For strawberries, comparisons remain less uniform because of different pack formats and product references. The report is useful because it shows that even with broad international sourcing, berries retail pricing remains highly influenced by promotions, assortment strategy and short-term availability.
Source: FreshPlaza.it
Publication date: 19 Feb 2026
India: urban blueberry demand grows while local production still faces chilling constraints
The article describes a fast-growing Indian berries market, with regular blueberry imports serving urban demand, while local production remains constrained by chilling requirements and varietal adaptation. Demand is already visible, but domestic supply needs more time, protected production systems and better-suited genetics. It is a useful example of a market where consumption expands faster than production capacity, creating room for both imports and future local investment.
Source: FreshPlaza.com
Publication date: 20 Feb 2026
