Blueberry supply is coming in from a few regions at the moment. “Peru continues to provide a steady volume, while Mexico is currently building toward a peak in early February,” says Tim Youmans, vice president of sales with California Giant Berry Farms.

Blueberries picking up in volume

Blueberry supply is coming in from a few regions at the moment. “Peru continues to provide a steady volume, while Mexico is currently building toward a peak in early February,” says Tim Youmans, vice president of sales with California Giant Berry Farms. “These volumes will be complemented by high-quality fruit from Chile. This increasing influx, paired with Oxnard, California’s domestic organic program hitting its stride mid-month, is expected to provide ample availability especially for February.”

Compared to last year at this time, conventional supply is as stable and consistent as it was, while organic supply is a little lighter than this time last year. However it is also ramping up quickly.

For California Giant, its conventional blueberries are being harvested in Peru, Chile, and Mexico while organic product is coming from Peru and Oxnard. Organic supply from Chile is expected towards the end of January.

^{Youmans says that late January and early February is when the market will transition into a much more abundant and stable blueberry supply phase.}

Weather in the growing regions
In terms of growing conditions, they have been favorable for quality across these regions. “In Peru, optimal weather has led to an earlier-than-normal peak, while Mexico is benefiting from steady, warm days that are supporting consistent yields,” says Youmans. “In Oxnard, while we’ve monitored recent seasonal rains and cooler morning temperatures typical for January, the fruit quality remains strong as the California season begins to gain momentum.”

Meanwhile blueberry demand remains strong as consumers increasingly consider eating blueberries year-round. “This is characterized by a shift in consumer behavior rather than a seasonal trend. Despite the lighter organic volumes currently seen due to the early Peru start, the consumer pull has not softened. The health halo of blueberries continues to drive growth in dollar sales year-over-year,” says Youmans, adding that demand is also expected to intensify as that halo attracts new household demographics.

^{Belli Berries are berries boosted with live probiotic cultures.}

Health and blueberries
Capitalizing on that health association with blueberries, last October, the company introduced a new berry product–Belli Berries, which are blueberries boosted with probiotics. That allows consumers to add further functional benefits to their daily diets with this product which is non-GMO and free of artificial flavors. While Belli Berries made its debut at IFPA 2025 in Anaheim, California, the item is expected to be on shelves and available to consumers in June.

Meanwhile as per-capita blueberry consumption continues to climb, the market is also seeing a distinct trend toward premiumization. “Consumers are increasingly seeking proprietary genetics—specifically jumbos—and are showing a willingness to pay a premium for a consistently superior eating experience,” notes Youmans.

Looking ahead, moving into late January and early February is when the market will transition into a much more abundant and stable supply phase. “The arrival of volumes from Chile in late January, complementing Mexico hitting its peak in early February, will provide a boost to overall availability,” says Youmans, adding that with Oxnard’s organic program also ramping up to peak volumes in mid-February and Peru maintaining its stability, the industry is looking at a window of strong availability. “This alignment of regional peaks creates a perfect opportunity for large-scale promotions and consistent shelf presence throughout the mid-winter months.”

For more information:
Kelley Sablan
California Giant Berry Farms
Tel: +1(831) 786-7467 Ext. 267
kking@calgiant.com
www.calgiant.com

“Following the early start to the season, the campaign is also expected to end somewhat earlier”

Port International Group

Port International Group on the Chilean blueberry season:

“Following the early start to the season, the campaign is also expected to end somewhat earlier”

As planned, the first Chilean blueberries were delivered to food retailers shortly before the turn of the year. “Demand has been very good so far, and price developments in this segment are typically strongly driven by supply,” summarizes Malte Storjohann, Head of Procurement Overseas at Port International Group. The first shipments from the South American growing region confirm the early assessments: “The quality is good overall, especially in terms of fruit firmness and shelf life. This is due, among other things, to favorable weather conditions in the main growing areas and the increasing variety change.”

In terms of harvest and export volumes, Port International Group currently expects a largely stable level compared to last year. Storjohann: “Compared to last year, the overall situation is neither clearly better nor worse, but structurally different. Due to climatic conditions, we started earlier with the produce, which is also likely to lead to an earlier and possibly abrupt end to the season. In addition, the start of the season for produce from Morocco and Spain has been delayed. Overall, however, we still expect the total volume to be roughly on par with last year’s level.”

Malte Storjohann visited suppliers in Chile shortly before the start of the season

Seasonal peak approaching
In addition to Chilean blueberries, the Hamburg-based fruit trading company is currently also offering European food retailers produce from Peru and South Africa, Storjohann continues. The latter origin is produced by the exclusive partner Rainbow Superfood. “They have their production in the Western Cape and offer blueberries until the end of January. In general, we are now approaching the peak, which of course also has an impact on volume pressure.” Overall, there has been a relatively smooth seasonal transition from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere in the blueberry category. “Overseas produce is usually available until spring, but this always depends heavily on weather, harvest progress, logistics, and market uptake. We expect to be able to offer Chilean blueberries until March.”

Focus on variety innovations and expansion of acreage
In the long term, the Port International Group sales team is observing a gradual structural and variety change. “The Latin American blueberry industry tends to focus more on variety renewal, known as New Genetics, and quality profiles than on pure acreage growth. These have a more consistent quality and longer shelf life. In some cases, however, there is also a growing demand for larger sizes, but this depends on the respective market. When it comes to packaging, standardization, handling, and comparability are often the main priorities in the retail sector; major innovations are currently rather rare.”

Insights into Chilean blueberry cultivation

A cornerstone of Port International Group’s corporate strategy is to maintain close, long-term partnerships with producers and suppliers. “We place particular emphasis on personal communication and regular on-site exchanges to align expectations early on, ensure quality, and plan ahead together. We visit our producers several times a year, thereby regularly deepening our business relationships and securing fixed programs,” he concludes.

For more information:
Malte Storjohann
Port International Group
Lippeltstrasse 1
20097 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 301000-0
info@port-international.com
www.port-international.com Publication date: Tue 20 Jan 2026

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