Harnessing export potential in blueberries

07 Aug, 2022 - 00:08 0 Views
Harnessing export potential in blueberries

The Sunday Mail

Trade Focus
Allan Majuru

Zimbabwe intends to grow exports by participating in lucrative markets, riding on areas the country enjoys competitive and comparative advantage.

The country’s horticulture sector is one of the areas that have potential to contribute more towards export growth.

The National Export Strategy launched by President Mnangagwa in 2019 identifies horticulture as a priority sector for export development and promotion.

To unlock the potential in horticulture, the Second Republic has since launched the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan, whose priority is to stimulate “export growth to trigger foreign exchange earnings and employment creation, taking advantage of the available lucrative markets for Zimbabwean products”.

This potential is, however, easily harnessed if local farmers partake in high-value crops whose demand is growing in international markets.

With the buzzword currently being superfood, there are opportunities for local farmers to take a leading role in supplying major markets around the world with products that are known to have strong immune-boosting properties. People around the world are increasingly becoming health conscious and, as such, food trends have shown a bias towards healthier options.

Superfoods reportedly help promote health by increasing immune function and minimising chances of diseases.

Blueberries — which are said to protect against heart disease and cancer, including maintaining bone strength, mental health and healthy blood pressure – are currently the epitome for such superfoods.

The market for this dark berry has been growing significantly over the past few years.

What are blueberries?

Blueberries are perennial flowering plants with blue to blue-black skin that is covered by a waxy bloom, giving the fruit a light-blue appearance.

The flesh is creamy-white to green in colour and juicy. The plants are usually prostrate shrubs that can vary in size from 10cm to four metres in height.

Blueberry bushes normally bear fruit in the middle of the growing season and fruiting times are determined by local conditions such as altitude and latitude.

Blueberries are sold fresh or processed as individually quick-frozen fruit, purée, juice or dried or infused berries, which, in turn, may be used in a variety of consumer goods such as jam and jelly, amongst others.

For the fresh market, usually the fruit should be fully blue and firm.

Size specifications vary depending on the buyer.

Blueberries are non-climacteric fruit but should be harvested near to full ripe as flavour does not improve after harvest.

Benefits of blueberries

Blueberries contain a type of flavonoid called anthocyanin, which gives the fruit many of its health benefits.

Flavonoids are a diverse group of phytonutrients which have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects and often have a powerful antioxidant effect.

A cup of blueberries also provides about 24 percent of a person’s recommended Vitamin C daily intake, 5 percent of vitamin B6 and 36 percent of vitamin K.

Blueberries are also believed to have large quantities of bioactive compounds, which then places them high on the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI).

This is an index which rates foods based on their mineral and vitamin content, phytochemical composition, as well as antioxidant capacity. Foods which have the most nutrients per calorie will have the highest rankings, and blueberries are placed among the top fruits and vegetables for nutrient density with an ANDI score of 132.

Blueberries are among the most nutrient-dense berries and are incredibly healthy and nutritious.

They are sweet, colourful and easily palatable and enjoyable.

Growing options

Blueberries are predominantly grown under two main options: Production of “licensed varieties” and “open variety” ranges.

The licensed varieties are basically a restricted type where the grower enters into a contractual agreement with a particular company.

The arrangements are usually such that the grower will source inputs, including plant materials and other required materials from the company, and thereafter is given guidelines for production, which the grower/farmer is mandated to follow.

Such an arrangement usually also provides for an offtake agreement for supply of the produce.

Such arrangements also provide various options for the grower, with different varieties having varying advantages over others.

For example, some varieties will produce larger berries and sweeter fruits, while others might either be early- or late-yielding varieties.

So usually a grower must be aware of the market requirements, which usually specify all such details.

Various licensed varieties from companies such as BerryWorld, Fall Creek and Costa are currently present in Zimbabwe.

The alternative option is for one to grow the open varieties.

Production under the open variety is done in such a way that the grower has no contractual agreement with a particular company and produces so openly.

The main difference from the licensed variety is that the farmer is responsible for marketing of the produce as there is no offtake agreement which comes with a decision/agreement to grow that particular variety.

Current Production & Market Options

The world blueberry market currently stands at about US$5,2 billion, with the largest markets being United States of America, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom and Canada.

According to the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI), the EU blueberry market has expanded rapidly over the past years.

The Netherlands was the largest importer in 2021 owing to its position as a trade hub.

According CBI, EU’s import of blueberries increased from 45 000 tonnes in 2015 to 113 000 tonnes in 2019.

From 2018 to 2019 alone, the import volume jumped by 41 percent.

In value terms, Netherlands’ blueberry imports increased by 210 percent between 2015 and 2019 from US$168 million to US$523 million.

Imports by the Netherlands are usually for both the internal market and re-export.

Zimbabwe has been playing its part in the global market by increasing local production of the superfood.

From recording no exports of the product prior to 2016, according to Trade Map, the country moved to US$212 000 in 2017, US$5,5million in 2019 and the figure doubled to US$11,1million in 2020.

Last year, exports topped US$13,6 million.

Most of these exports are to the EU, going mostly to Netherlands, the United Kingdom and some to South Africa, which have trade agreements which Zimbabwe is also a party to. Zimbabwe’s current production has a lot of potential to grow exponentially.

There is need to take advantage of the continued growth in demand, while making sure to reap benefits of this superfood before it becomes a commodity rather than a cash crop. For suppliers, there is need to take advantage of strong demand but at the same time budget for prices to gradually decline due to increased availability of blueberries worldwide.

Therefore, before the blueberry train leaves, Zimbabwe needs to come to the party and latch on to this “sweet” market.

Allan Majuru is ZimTrade’s chief executive officer.

 

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