Are there blueberries in africa

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Global Berry Congress. European Packaging Forum. Global Citrus Congress. Subscribe Now. Register for free news updates Go. Popular news. X Serroplast Technology. In the valleys below, other farms have followed suit, ripping up historic apple orchards and strawberry fields, replacing them with rows of net-covered blueberry bushes.

The investments have helped South Africa's blueberry production rise fold over the past 12 years -- a whopping 24, tonnes are projected to be harvested this year alone, according to the South African Berry Producers Association, also known as BerriesZA. The record harvest is expected to rake in more than 2. According to official figures, South Africa's gross domestic product collapsed by an annualised 51 percent in the second quarter of , and more than 30 percent of the workforce is unemployed, the highest level since And South Africa's blueberry production was counter-seasonal to its export market.

While South Africa is still dwarfed by blueberry producing giants such as the United States and Canada, Schutte said producers were vying for markets in China and South Korea that would further expand the industry. Since then production has increased rapidly to cash in on the growing international and local demand for this super fruit.

The industry is dominated by three large producers, namely Berryworld, Haygrove and United Exports. Quite a lot of value, in fact.

He cites a lack of transparency regarding prices as a major impediment to growers, some of whom struggle to get by on current earnings which are, he claims, incommensurate with market prices. Photos supplied by Rainbow Superfood. He spreads the marketing of his crop across nine exporters plus a portion which he handles himself.

Rainbow Superfoods is one of the largest suppliers from South Africa to markets outside Europe over three continents and in fifteen countries. Rainbow Superfood's blueberry packhouse under construction in Paarl photos supplied by Rainbow Superfood. By the middle of July they'll be packing their fruit grown in Rawsonville and that of other growers on the West Coast and in the Boland; independence is their aim, but they're non-partisan and, capacity allowing, will pack blueberries for anyone.