Morocco's blueberry harvest delayed, peak expected in April-May
Morocco's blueberry season has been delayed this year, with the peak harvest now expected in April and May—almost a month later than usual.
«We'll be seeing more and more harvests in the coming weeks, and we'll reach peak volume levels in April and May», said Amine Bennani, President of the Moroccan Association of Soft Fruit Producers, in an interview with Fresh Plaza.
He attributed the delay to «unsuitable temperatures for blueberries in the north of the country in November and December, coinciding with the fruit's flowering», which led to slower growth. By the end of February, only 17-20% of the previous season's volumes had been harvested. However, in the Agadir region, conditions were favorable, and «harvests [have been] normal so far, reaching 70% of the season's volumes».
Bennani highlighted improvements in Larache's productivity, stating, «Productivity has clearly increased in Larache now and will continue to increase until we reach peak harvest very soon». He reassured that Moroccan blueberries would be available on the market until the second week of May.
Despite the positive outlook, Bennani acknowledged a significant challenge: «Labor supply is a big challenge». The peak blueberry harvest coincides with the second cycle of raspberries and strawberries for freezing, potentially leading to fruit losses due to a shortage of workers.
From a commercial perspective, the delay is seen as an advantage. Weather-related seasonal shifts have affected blueberry production worldwide, including in Spain and Latin America. As a result, an oversupply reached the market later than usual, and Morocco's delayed harvest helped avoid an early influx when prices were particularly low compared to last season.
Bennani believes the market will be more favorable from now until May, adding, «This also reassures us about the shift Moroccan growers have made this season toward producing jumbo varieties, which are in high demand in European and Asian markets».
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