KIEV: In the summer of 2016, Ukraine exported almost 1,200 tons of fresh blueberries, 3.5 times as high as in the same period of the previous season. EU countries accounted for the largest part of those exports.
Fruit-Inform reports that Ukrainian exporters shipped more than 700 tons of fresh blueberries to the EU in summer 2016, against just 300 tons a year before. The Netherlands and the UK were the largest buyers. “Such external trade data confirm that Ukrainian blueberries have been increasing their popularity in the EU market, and the year 2016 has been a real breakthrough, as exports to the EU have more than doubled”, says Ms. Tetiana Getman, Eastern European fruit and vegetable market expert. “As a result, blueberry prices are still relatively high in Ukraine, despite a rise in production”.
According to Ms. Getman, areas under blueberries are rapidly expanding in Ukraine; therefore, their production is growing. Exports are the main sales market for Ukrainian blueberries, as the internal market demand is growing more slowly, due to high prices. “Ukrainian farmers have been actively investing in blueberry plantations over the past 5 years. Areas under blueberries totalled 1,000 ha in 2016, 50% higher than under raspberries. As a result, Ukraine will most likely be raising its blueberry production in the near future, while prices will be decreasing”, says Ms. Getman.
