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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.
The coronavirus pandemic is strongly conditioning the development of Argentina's blueberry season. The Association of Blueberry Producers of Argentina's Mesopotamia (APAMA) developed, with the endorsement of the Stamboulian Center, which specializes in infectious disease, a special protocol for field and packaging tasks to protect its workers against possible infections. Alejandro Pannunzio, the president of APAMA, said the protocol established respiratory protection measures, as well as measures to transport the personnel, disinfect the transport units, and distribute the personnel in the fields.
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.
With growing investments in hi-tech orchards and logistics infrastructure, Serbia’s modernised fruit production is on the rise.
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.
The production of blueberries in Southern Africa continues to grow, with South African producers in the north, and in neighbouring countries, expanding production. The business will however for some time be dominated by production in the Western Cape.
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.
Under the influence of COVID-19, the demand for frozen food spikes and has no intention to move downward. The convenience, affordable price, and longer shelf life of frozen food start to get recognized by consumers, especially when researchers found that the vitamin content in frozen fruits may be as equal as fresh, if not more. Fruits like strawberry, peach, and apricot are seasonal, highly perishable, and delicate. Choosing the IQF freezing method to process them is to opt for a well-preserved fruit and a profitable wholesales price. However, the processing of IQF fruits needs to be done right for the best result possible.
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.
Chinese peach and nectarine production will fall to an estimated 14,5 million tons in 2020/2021. That's because of heavy snows at the start of the growing season. Domestic cherry production is expected to keep climbing. As a result of new plantings, it should reach 450,000 tons. Expansion means cherry production should increase even further in the coming years.
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