SA blueberry output rises to 18,000 tons

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s blueberry production increased to 18,000 tons in 2019/2020 from 11,700 the previous season, an industry association said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the South African Berry Producers Association (SABPA) said the 53 percent increase was testament to the growing investment in, and demand for, the country’s berries.

“Our projections for the year ahead indicate that blueberry production could reach 25,000 tons for the 2020/2021 season, a solid increase considering the impact of the Covid-19 crisis,” SABPA chairman Justin Mudge said.

He said the industry’s growth was particularly good news for the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, where output was expected to grow by 136 percent and 102 percent respectively by 2025.

Earlier this month, the association announced a new record of 12,282 tons in blueberry exports in 2019/20, saying this, read together with the production figures, showed that exports accounted for 68 percent of the industry’s output.