News

Poland is the largest producer of currants, gooseberries, raspberries and the second largest producer of strawberries in the EU. With a share of over 50%, Poland is an important EU producer of frozen fruit and soft fruit concentrated juices. Poland is the world's largest producer of currants and gooseberries, and in recent years also raspberries and the fourth in the world in apple production and fifth in strawberry production. Poland is one of the largest producers of frozen fruit and concentrated juices made of soft fruits.

The pandemic has boosted the consumption of healthy and beneficial foods, such as fresh blueberries, and increased their demand globally. This is good news for blueberry-producing countries, which now expect to increase the volumes they will market this season and achieve better prices.

With the change in people's eating habits and lifestyles, frozen food has become a "frequent guest" in home kitchens, restaurants, and coffee shops. The new generations advocate the concept of sustainable, healthy, and greener living and are educated with the knowledge that shifting consumption towards more frozen food is one of many important steps to take to get closer to that goal. Food processors are given this task. For them, a sustainable and cost-effective solution for highly perishable and seasonable fruits and berries is IQF freezing.

The joint work between the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of Peru (MINAGRI), represented by the SENASA (National Agrarian Health Service), and the phytosanitary authorities of Taiwan, BAPHIQ (Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine), has resulted in the opening of this Asian country to Hortifrut Peru's berry exports. Hortifrut is thus becoming the first company with berry production in Peru to ship fresh blueberries to Taiwan.

Chile and the European Union have launched paperless phytosanitary certifications, streamlining the process of exporting products to one of its biggest agricultural markets.

World peach and nectarine production is forecast down 1.1 million metric tons (MT) to 21m MT in the 2020-21 season as adverse weather conditions impact output in top producers China and the European Union.

The California Blueberry Commission has voted to support the Section 210 global safeguard investigation to protect the "viability" of the state's growers.

Peruvian blueberry exports took a big hit in the first half of 2020, with their value falling by 48% year-on-year to US$44.8m, according to export association ADEX.