Blueberry
Blueberries have become one of the fastest-growing fruit exports worldwide, with demand surging in North America, Europe, and Asia. Countries in Latin America and East Africa are in prime position to supply these markets, with Mexico, Peru, and Zimbabwe emerging as key producers.
However, exporting blueberries is not without risk. Growers and exporters face severe price volatility, rising production costs, trade policy barriers, and logistical disruptions. For small and medium-sized producers, these challenges translate into financial uncertainty and unpredictable earnings.
Blueberry trade challenges
While blueberries are a high-value export crop, market instability makes it difficult for growers and exporters to plan for the future.
Unstable Pricing → Blueberry prices fluctuate due to oversupply, weather-related production swings, and changing consumer demand. A profitable season can quickly turn into a loss.
Rising Production Costs → Labor, transportation, and input costs have increased dramatically, shrinking margins for growers.
Trade Policy Barriers → Some countries impose currency conversion regulations and unfavorable trade policies, making it harder for exporters to remain competitive.
Intensifying Global Competition → Countries like Peru and Chile have expanded production, creating price pressures that reduce profitability for smaller exporters.
Without protection from these market forces, blueberry growers and exporters face serious financial instability.
2022
2022
In 2022, the global blueberry market experienced a substantial increase in production, particularly from countries like Peru, which became the world's third-largest blueberry producer.
This rapid production growth led to an oversupply in key markets, causing a decline in prices. Growers faced reduced revenues, struggling to cover production costs amidst the falling prices.
Global Production Surge and Price Decline
2023
2023
In 2023, Hurricane Ian significantly affected Florida's blueberry production. The state produced approximately 15.7 million pounds of blueberries, a notable decrease from the 21.5 million pounds in 2022. The hurricane caused extensive damage to crops, leading to reduced yields and financial losses for growers who were unprepared for such a natural disaster.
Impact of Hurricane Ian on Florida's Blueberry Production
2024
2024
By 2024, Zimbabwe's blueberry industry faced significant hurdles, including high interest rates and limited access to long-term financing. These financial constraints made it difficult for farmers to invest in necessary infrastructure and technology. Additionally, the volatile economic climate and currency crisis exacerbated borrowing difficulties, with farmers receiving only a portion of their export earnings in foreign currency, further limiting their profitability.
Challenges in Zimbabwe's Blueberry Sector
When Prices Drop, Growers and Exporters Pay the Price
Price instability is not just an economic issue—it directly impacts the livelihoods of blueberry growers and exporters. Conversations with industry professionals have made one thing clear:
Lost Investments → Farmers invest months of labor, fertilizers, and irrigation, only to sell at a loss when prices drop unexpectedly.
Unpaid Loans & Debt Risks → Many small and medium-sized exporters take out loans to cover farming and logistics costs, only to struggle with repayments when markets shift.
Shipping & Storage Losses → Blueberries require precise cold-chain logistics, and delays at ports or in transit lead to spoilage and lost revenue.
Smaller Growers Are Pushed Out → Farmers who cannot absorb multiple bad seasons are forced to exit the industry, leaving large-scale corporate farms in control.
The blueberry trade should not be a gamble—but for too many exporters, it is.
You Work Hard. You Deserve Stability.
You put everything into your harvest—your time, your resources, your future. But when prices drop, you’re the one left carrying the loss. It shouldn’t be this way.
At SAFTA, we make sure you’re never alone in the trade cycle. Our model protects growers and exporters from market swings, securing fair pricing and stable income, so you can focus on growing, not just surviving.
How SAFTA makes a difference
SAFTA provides stability in an unpredictable market, ensuring that blueberry exporters get fair prices and secure trade conditions.
Stable Pricing Model → SAFTA’s pricing is based on actual production costs and fair margin (FOB+), not market speculation. This means exporters get predictable income instead of gambling on price swings.
Direct Access to Buyers → With SAFTA Plus, we connect growers with reliable European buyers, ensuring long-term contracts over risky spot market sales.
Logistics & Trade Support → SAFTA Standard helps exporters navigate shipping costs, customs regulations, and compliance, reducing unexpected costs and delays.
SAFTA Rescue → When shipments get stuck at ports due to delays or compliance issues, SAFTA steps in to resolve the problem, protecting exporters from financial losses.
By focusing on fair pricing, stability, and real support, SAFTA allows growers and exporters to focus on what they do best—producing top-quality avocados—without the fear of sudden market collapse.
SAFTA vs. Fairtrade: Two Approaches to Fairer Trade
Fairtrade and SAFTA both aim to support farmers, but they take very different approaches.
