MOROCCO – The blueberry cultivation acreage in Morocco has increased by 800 hectares to a total of 4,800 hectares as the country aims to achieve a production of over 100,000 tons for export by 2030.
The data was shared during the XXVII International Blueberry Seminar organized by Blueberries Consulting. The seminar was notable for the participation of international speakers from various countries.
The seminar aimed to provide technical and commercial information on blueberry production, while also fostering networking and cooperation among the participants.
Blueberries Consulting, a company that provides information and consulting services for the blueberry industry, reported that attendees from different countries confirmed the importance of Morocco’s blueberry industry during the seminar.
“Blueberry cultivation in Morocco had a late start, with only 150 hectares in 2009,” said the source. “The country also had a timid start in fruit hence Morocco aims to reach 6,000 cultivated hectares by 2030 to achieve our intended goal.”
According to EastFruit, Morocco ranked fourth among the world’s largest exporters of fresh blueberries in 2022, surpassing even the United States, where blueberries are locally cultivated.
In total, Moroccan exporters exported 53,000 tons of fresh blueberries last year, and only three countries managed to surpass this volume. These were Peru (277,000 tons), Chile (105,000 tons), and Spain (87,000 tons).
It is also crucial to note that the exports from the Netherlands in the 11 months of 2022 were higher than those of Morocco, amounting to 104,000 tons.
Exports of blueberries from Canada and the United States were also higher than those from Morocco, but only when considering the volume of wild berry supplies.
Strawberry exports in Morocco also reached a historical record in 2022, thanks to the country’s successful strategy of continuously diversifying its strawberry supplies.
Fresh strawberries in Morocco, although their export volume is lower than that of frozen strawberries or fresh raspberries and blueberries, are still one of the key commodities in the country’s fruit and vegetable exports, as detailed by EastFruit.
Fresh strawberries are among the top 10 most exported vegetables and fruits from Morocco, generating annual revenues of USD 40 to 70 million for the country.
In 2022, a total of 22,400 tons of fresh strawberries were exported from the country. This amount represents a 17% increase compared to 2021 and is nearly 1,000 tons higher than the previous record set in 2019.
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