New Blueberry Industry Intelligence: Trends | Markets | Innovation

A few days ago, Tauran shared the current situation and new trends of the blueberry industry at the Blueberry Conference in Yunnan, and we are now compiling the relevant information below for the reference of relevant industry players.

China's blueberry planting area accounts for the global proportion expanding year by year. According to the 2023 IBO report, China's planting area in 2022 has reached 77,000 hectares with an output of 525,000 tonnes.

As far as China's blueberry growing provinces are concerned, Guizhou, Liaoning, Shandong, Yunnan and Sichuan are at the top. Among them, the planting area ranked first is Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, Liaoning in the incremental top three.

The different blueberry characteristics formed by the major producing areas according to local conditions, playing a differentiation, but also in the consumer really conscious, implanted the blueberry producing areas brand.

Over the past five years, the demand for blueberries has grown at an annual rate of about 40 per cent, in contrast to the modest growth of many other major fruit categories, which have averaged about 3-5 per cent per annum. Meanwhile, China imported nearly 60,000 tonnes of blueberries in 2023, indicating that domestically produced blueberries have not been able to meet domestic demand.

China's per capita consumption of blueberries and developed countries have a great distance, 2022, the United States blueberry per capita consumption of 2.63 kg, while China's current per capita consumption of blueberries is only 0.26 kg, there is still a lot of room for growth.

Domestic blueberry consumption is growing year by year. From a geographical point of view, first-tier cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other cities are still the main field of consumption, but the consumption of second and third-tier cities should not be underestimated.

Demand for blueberries with large fruit sizes (usually 22mm or more in diameter) surges during festivals such as the Chinese New Year. Blueberries in China are generally classified into three grades according to fruit diameter: 12-14mm, 14-18mm and 18mm or above. Blueberries produced in Yunnan have one more grade, 22mm or above.

Taste, fruit diameter size and appearance freshness are important factors related to the quality of the fruit itself that consumers consider when purchasing blueberries.

Currently, 80% of the blueberry industry growers are small growers and small enterprises, and it is difficult for them to standardise their planting techniques and quality control. The blueberry industry will eventually mature and integrate after the market outbreak. Increased market competition will narrow profit margins, leading to the exit of players with low efficiency and lack of technical barriers.

Meanwhile, we also observe that the current standardised substrate planting and post-harvest treatment levels of leading domestic blueberry companies are not very different compared to those of foreign countries. By cultivating good seeds and introducing advanced post-harvest treatment technology for blueberries, planting large and sweet blueberries suitable for the tastes of Chinese consumers, and implementing automation and standardisation in feeding, sorting and grading, intelligent packaging, etc., topping the industry's leading position, they can be in an advantageous position to wind up in the domestic and international competition even if they are in the middle of it.

Blueberry substrate cultivation is an important means of blueberry standardisation, high value and mechanised production. Through substrate cultivation, we can improve the neatness of the growth and fruiting of blueberry plants, improve the taste and nutritional content of blueberries, reduce the cost of labour and improve the precision of blueberry cultivation management. Blueberry cultivation substrate has stable structure, water and air balance, simple management and safe use. To know which enterprises' blueberry substrates are of good quality, strong brand and high technology, please attend the 17th International Peat Conference which will be held in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province from 4-9 August, you will have a face-to-face communication with domestic and foreign blueberry substrate big enterprises and big experts, and get your preferred blueberry substrate products and professional services.