The South African blueberry industry continues to undergo significant development, with exports expected to nearly double year-on-year for the second consecutive season. 

The South African Berry Producers Association (SABPA) said exports during the 2017-18 campaign are forecast to rise from 4,154 metric tons (MT) last season to around 8,000MT.

Total production is expected to increase from 5,869MT to 10,000-11,000MT, as numerous new plantings continue to mature.

SABPA representative Elzette Schutte told Fresh Fruit Portal some farms in the country had started with their harvest as early as July, but the first exports had been sent in week 31.

"We usually continue until week 8 with export, but sales continue until March or April," she said.

Being able to export the fruit during September and October when there is very little competition in its leading markets - the U.K. and Europe - is one major advantage for the South African industry.

Schutte said this current season had started “very positively.”

"Northern Hemisphere fruit is not in the market anymore. We expect a good season with good quality fruit."

Schutte said that Peru - which has a similar marketing window to South Africa - is more focused on the North American market due to proximity, limiting competition in Europe.

In addition, she noted South African blueberries would have to be subjected to cold treatment at 0ºC before entering the U.S., making the market not a very attractive option at present.

The industry interested in exporting to Asian markets like China, India, South Korea and Thailand as part of a long-term strategy, but Schutte highlighted that gaining market access was by no means a quick process.

Last year the U.K. received 58% of South African blueberry exports, with a further 32% going to Europe, 6% to Africa, 3% to the Far East and Asia and 1% to the Middle East.

Industry production development

Schutte said rising global demand for blueberries had fueled interest in planting the fruit in South Africa, and the SABPA has been receiving numerous inquiries from growers of other crops interested in the industry.

The long process of bringing in plant material from other countries has also been a limiting factor in how much growth the sector was previously able to undergo.

There are three blueberry exporters in the country, each of which had brought in their own genetics which are then licensed out to growers.

"One, for example, would have genetics from California, another from Australia, and they all bring in their own material and then multiply it here," she said.

Blueberry growers looking to produce newer and improved varieties would generally need to align themselves with one of the three exporters in order to gain access to the genetics, she said.

"Then there's also people bringing in new material such as companies abroad that see an opportunity in South Africa. So there is definitely going to be more and more coming into this country, which is great," she said.

Total hectarage is forecast to double by 2022 to in excess of 2,000 hectares, although Schutte said the figure could end up even higher.

"Tonnage is also expected to grow quite a lot. I don’t think we're near where Peru or Argentina are - we’re still very small - but we're growing at a good pace which is very exciting," she said.

According to the survey, 69% of the country's blueberry plantings are no more than three years old.

While the majority of blueberry plantings are currently in the Western Cape, most of the future development is expected to come from northern provinces like Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

Around 60% of South African plantings of all berries categories - of which blueberries are predominant by far -  last year were based in the Western Cape, but by 2022 this figure is expected to drop to 51%.

Meanwhile, the proportion of berry plantings base in Limpopo is expected to grow from 15% to 25%.

"Increase in development in the North is mainly due to the fact that they are earlier areas and therefore more suited to be in the market," Schutte said.

She also noted there was a definite trend in South Africa toward the early season, but not too early otherwise there may be overlap with Northern Hemisphere supplies.

"Ideally we want to be in the market in September and October," she said.

The results of the survey also showed that 61% of blueberry crop is grown under shade netting, 14% in tunnels and 25% in the open field. In addition, 70% of fruit is grown in soil with the remaining 30% grown in substrate.

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