Market Trends of Europe Blueberry Industry
Growing Consumer Preference for Domestically grown Berries
The blueberry season is thriving, fueled by a surge in blueberry bush plantations across Europe. This expansion aims to satisfy the growing appetite for homegrown blueberries. As a result, the overall berry revenue has seen an uptick, signaling a promising outlook for the market. Germany boasts the North German Plain, one of its largest blueberry-growing regions. Within this, Lower Saxony stands out as the epicenter, cultivating blueberries across 2,000 ha. This region accounts for 70% of the nation's blueberry production, hinting at a robust demand trajectory for berries in the years ahead.
The FAO database reported an increase in blueberry production in Europe owing to the rising preference among consumers for fruit salads and as ingredients in other products, including fresh fruits, which are used to decorate bakery products. The production of blueberries increased considerably from 53,300 metric tons in 2021 to 64,000 metric tons in 2022 in Poland. The International Blueberry Organization (IBO) stated that Poland's blueberry industry is made up of a massive number of small growers, who are estimated to have an average volume of only 25-35 metric tons. However, around 60% of the country's production is controlled by 5% of the growers, which will further diversify blueberry production in the market.
Increasing Blueberry Consumption in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a leader in blueberry consumption per capita. Blueberries are consumed all year round and supplied by a large number of countries. The average annual consumption reached an estimated 1.0 kg per capita in 2022. This makes the country one of Europe's largest and most mature markets for blueberries.
UK shoppers are projected to purchase approximately 57,000 metric tons of blueberry fruits annually. In contrast, British growers can only provide around 6,000 metric tons, necessitating the reliance on imports for the remaining. In 2022, the United Kingdom imported 58.25 thousand metric tons worth 400.2 million of blueberries, majorly from Peru, Morocco, South Africa, Spain, Chile, and Poland.
Blueberries have become so popular that UK growers are ramping up production to meet the rocketing demand and reduce import dependence. Tesco, a retailer, is now working with Hall Hunter, which has four farms across Berkshire and Survey and is the biggest grower of blueberries in the United Kingdom. They produce about 2500 metric tons of blueberries, nearly half of UK production.
