🫐 The Blueberry War on the Horizon

One of the most remarkable stories in the produce industry over the past decade has been the explosive growth of blueberries. While traditional tropical fruits such as bananas 🍌, mangoes 🥭, and pineapples 🍍 have seen stagnating demand, this unique superfood has experienced unprecedented global consumption growth.

The Keto Diet Effect

A major driver of this surge has been the rise of low-carb diets, particularly the Keto diet, which emphasizes foods low in sugar and carbohydrates. Unlike many other fruits, blueberries align well with these dietary preferences, making them highly desirable in health-conscious markets.

The Rise of Peru as a Blueberry Superpower

The real story today, however, is about the brewing Blueberry War—a looming battle for dominance in the global market.

Fifteen years ago, Peru 🇵🇪 had virtually no blueberry production. Thanks to the vision of former Agriculture Minister Alfonso (Pocho) Velásquez Tuesta and the investments of industry giants like CAMPOSOL, Peru has skyrocketed from zero to over 20,000 hectares of production, making it the world’s largest exporter of blueberries 🫐.

This export boom has restructured the industry. Blueberries, originally native to North America, were long dominated by the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦, later joined by New Zealand 🇳🇿 and Chile 🇨🇱. But now, with Peru flooding the market, the dynamics are shifting.

Market Saturation & The China Factor

While Peru is the world’s largest exporter, it is not the largest producer—that title belongs to China 🇨🇳, which has an estimated 200,000 hectares of blueberries 🫐. Even more impressively, every single berry is consumed domestically. Despite this massive local demand, China still imports blueberries to cover its supply deficit.

However, China is changing the game. China has planted an additional 60,000 hectares in an aggressive expansion move, surpassing all of Peru’s export production combined. This means China is now entering the global export market.

The Brewing Trade War: U.S. Tariffs & Market Disruption

Adding to the tension, the United States 🇺🇸 is ramping up its blueberry production. With potential tariffs on foreign blueberries looming, U.S. growers could drive down global prices, threatening the profitability of exporters like Peru, Chile, and even China.

A Market Showdown is Coming

With China’s massive expansion, Peru’s export dominance, and U.S. trade policy shifting, the global blueberry industry is heading toward a major shake-up. The question now is: who will emerge victorious in the coming Blueberry War?

Stay tuned as AgriMundo continues to track this evolving story.