Peru is Propelling World Blueberry Production Growth

The production of blueberry, worldwide, has been exponential in the decade between 2012 and 2021. In fact, blueberry is the fastest growing single crop, according to an analysis of the data recorded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The first two in the list of highest production increase are groups of pome fruits, and seeds like cumin, coriander, anise, and fennel. However, the two groups are not included as the source of the data states that they their data is insufficient.

Blueberry is the Fastest Growing Crop in the World

The overall production of the berry started an upward trend and refused to die down. The production dipped in a small percent in 2020 but picked up immediately in 2021. In 2023, the production is predicted to grow even beyong its previous years' record and in 2021, it was already at a whopping 1113k tonne!

World Produced More Than Double Blueberries in 2021, Compared to 2012

So where is all this blueberry coming from? And who is consuming these berries? The answer to both the questions is largely the same: United States of America. The US has maintained its position as the highest producer for more than a decade. Canada came a close second in this blue race. But in 2018, a new player entered the field. Peru. Peru increased its production exponentially between 2017 and 2018. It soon beat Canada and Chile to the second and third position respectively in a single year.

Peru Beat Canada and Chile in the Blue Race

So what makes Peru such a prime candidate for blueberry world domination? The answer lies in its coastal states, proximity to the Pacific ocean and a phenomenon called the Peru current or the Humboldt current coupled with the tropical weather requirement of the crop.

The Humboldt current, according to Britannica, "is a cold current, except at times of the phenomenon known as El Niño (q.v.), the Peru Current brings fog to the nearby coast but also helps to keep the coast one of the most intensely arid areas in the world. The cold flow is intensified by upwelling of deep water caused by the combined effects of the drag of surface winds of the Southeast Trades and the Earth's rotation. Upwelling brings abundant nutrients close to the surface, and the beneficial effects of sunlight"

'Peru Current' Primes Peru for Perfect Weather Conditions

"Following the success of this crop, Peru's government declared berries as a national strategic crop. According to Law 31518 published in June 2022, blueberries will benefit from targeted public policies formulated to promote national production, exports, and industrialization," according to a report by USDA published in 2022.

As a result of its popularity, the 'cold desert' country of Peru has dedicated an increasing amount of land to blueberry production. In 2020, the yield dipped due to lack of labor owing to Covid, however, reports claim that the production made up and increased further in 2022.

Land to Production Ratio Sees Slight Dip in 2020