What will the blueberry production be like in 2023? Joseph Vargas, director of business intelligence at the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), shares a crop forecast.
Peru: In 2022, Peru shipped 153,800 tons to the United States and produced a total of 292,000 tons. “It seems that in the 2023-24 season shipments to the United States will increase to 169,400 tons and total production to 338,800 tons in Peru,” says Vargas. “U.S. imports are growing steadily and we are beginning to see less pronounced peaks and troughs, as production efforts as a whole remain focused on achieving a more stable supply throughout the year.”
It also indicates that, last year, Peru exceeded 50% of total blueberry imports from the United States, a figure that is expected to continue growing.
Chile: “In total, the Chilean blueberry supply to the United States has remained quite flat,” says Vargas. Total production has experienced some increase year on year. Last year it was 79,400 tons, of which 21,300 were processed, compared to 165,000 tons for Chile globally, with 52,200 tons processed and 112,500 actual tons. “We are seeing a slight uptick in berries processed from Chile. Less processing than last year is anticipated for 2023-2024,” she notes.
Chile’s supply has taken up a remarkably smaller percentage of total US imports: in 2011, it accounted for 67% of total imports, and by 2022, that figure had dropped to 19%.
Mexico: Last year, Mexico’s total was 78,400 tons and most of its production was exported to the United States, more than 95%. “By 2023, 82,500 tonnes is forecast. The growth rate appears to be slowing, but steady growth in US production and imports is expected to continue.”
british columbia
Highbush: Last year, the United States imported 46,900 tons of Highbush blueberries from British Columbia: 28,300 tons processed and 18,600 tons fresh. “The entire Northwest had a shorter window to import fruit due to delays caused by weather conditions. The result was missing some of the early sales that are normally anticipated. We should have a more normal spring this season. A few growing seasons difficult in the Northwest have contributed to a slight year-on-year decline in recent seasons,” explains Vargas. The United States is expected to import 57,100 tons from Canada.
Lowbush/silvestre: This includes Canada and the Northeast United States. “Last year, 154,700 tons were Lowbush blueberries and this season there are 140,600, that is, a slight decrease compared to the previous year,” says Vargas.
Florida: Last year, the state reached 11,400 tons, practically all fresh. “This season, between 10,200 and 10,900 tons are estimated. There are many variables and the state is halfway through the harvest,” according to Vargas.
Mississippi: “The weather has been bad and I anticipate that the forecasts will drop a lot,” says Vargas. Last year, the state produced regarding 907 tons, but had forecast regarding 1,100 tons. To date, there is no firm figure, but Mississippi is understood to have lost a lot of commercial production.
California: The state is beginning to harvest and forecasts 36,300 tons for this upcoming season: 25,000 tons fresh and 11,300 processed. “Last season, California produced 23,100 tons for fresh and 5,440 for processed, a total of 28,540 tons. So far this year, the entire West Coast has had a lot of rain and cooler temperatures, which may play a role.”
Georgia: Last year, Georgia recorded a total of 24,500 tons: 17,200 tons fresh and 7,300 tons processed. “We’ve heard that Georgia might have a very good year this year because of the way the weather has cooperated so far. It’s early days,” Vargas says. “It might have a rebound for the 2023 season and he anticipates 38,500 tons total: 11,300 tons processed and 27,200 tons fresh.”
North Carolina: Also in good weather, the state estimate is 18,100-20,400 tons. Last year it was 16,500 tons. “The last five to seven years of production have been below the all-time high for the state in 2015, of almost 23,000 tons. However, with favorable weather, it is anticipated that this year might be closer to 2015,” says Vargas.
New Jersey: Its production has remained constant in the last seven or eight years. “Last year it was regarding 15,400 tons, of which 1,800 were processed. Its forecast for 2023 is 18,100 tons, with 16,300 tons of fresh product and 1,800 processed.”
Indiana: Last season around 1,500 tons were produced and the next one is expected to be between 1,450 and 1,500.
Michigan: “A lot of new plantings are being made, older varieties are being retired and newer ones are being introduced, which growers say is reverberating across the United States,” Vargas says. Last year, the production was 13,600 tons fresh and 11,800 tons processed, with a total of 25,400 tons. The forecast for 2023 is 18,100 tons fresh and 12,700 processed, for a total of 30,800 tons.
Oregon: Snowfall, rain and cooler temperatures in some areas continue in the state. Last year it produced 71,200 tons, 28,600 fresh tons and 42,600 processed. “This season it is expected to reach 79,300 tons, with 43,500 tons processed and 35,800 fresh,” says Vargas. “In Oregon and Washington, as well as California, we have seen increases in overall production, and part of that is due to improved efficiencies, both fresh and processed, but processed is growing more than the rest.” .
Washington: Again, cooler temperatures are being recorded so far in the western part of the state. According to the Washington Blueberry Commission, more blueberries are being planted in Washington than in any other state, which will contribute to growth from season to season.
Last year, 23,150 tons were produced for fresh and 56,250 for processed, representing a total of 79,400 tons. For 2023, the harvest is expected to be around 26,760 tons fresh and 57,150 processed, for a total of 84,910 tons, which represents a slight increase compared to the previous year.
For more information:
Amanda Griffin
North American Blueberry Council
Tel.: +1 (916) 333-7863
agriffin@nabcblues.org
https://nabc.blueberry.org/
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