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the berry category is competitive and quite exciting.”
A good example of this is what’s been happening in Argentina, where the industry has undergone a process of varietal renewal.
“Since 2012, Emerald and Snowchaser and new releases like Farthing and Kestrel are replacing the old varieties like O’Neal and Misty,” says Carla Genobili, manager of the Buenos Aires-based Argentinean Blueberry Committee (ABC), which projects 11,000 tons of the country’s crop to ship to the United States this season, with some 40 percent of that by boat compared with 18 percent for this mode of transportation last year.
“Argentina is positioning globally as an early supplier of high-quality and avorful fruit, and these varieties comply perfectly.”
Similarly, says Kiah Ruvalcaba, marketing manager for Family Tree Farms, in Reedley, CA, which grows blueberries in Peru and Mexico, “our program is not merely to ll a domestic gap but to provide an equal or better-tasting imported blueberry. is
program consists of MBO genetics (Austra- lia’s Mountain Blue Orchards), including the Eureka variety, which results in a hig- avor, rm blueberry with the perfect crunch. We also o er an extensive jumbo blueberry program that provides a unique product and experience for consumers.”
Quantity is the second major reason for
booming wintertime berry sales.
“We will once again see record volumes of
imported berries coming into the U.S. market as new plantings come in to production. is is particularly true for all berry types in Mexico, blueberries from Peru and organic blueberries from Chile. is will allow for promotional opportunities in windows that were typically
n BEYOND THE BIG FOUR
Strong consumer demand and retail sales of the big four berries – strawber- ries, blueberries, raspberries and black- berries – leads a retailer to ask three obvious questions. What’s new, what’s next, and what’s nearing greater avail- ability thanks to imports to grow berry patch displays and gather incremental register rings? Two prominent fruits on this front are goldenberries and kiwi berries.
“Goldenberries are available year- round out of Colombia and from domestic sources, although February to March are when supplies tend to be tightest,” says Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Melissa’s/World Variety Produce, in Los Angeles.
“We have seen about a 12 percent sales increase over the year prior driven by greater availability and consumer awareness. We anticipate a 12 to 15 percent increase this season, especially as Ecuador is expected to get clearance to export its fruit to the United States for the first time this fall.”
Known by many names, such as Cape gooseberries, husk cherry, Peruvian ground cherry and Inca berries, these
PHOTOS BY MELISSA’S/WORLD VARIETY PRODUCE
last two due to its native origins in the Andes, the Goldenberry is marble-sized, bright orange in color and sweet-tart in taste. Some importers sell the fruit in its husk, an outer covering reminiscent of the fruits botanical cousin, the tomatillo, or huskless. Goldenberries can be eaten out of hand like other berries or made into sauces or chutneys. Most are sold in
3- to 4-ounce clamshells.
“Kiwi Berries are available from New
Zealand and Chile from February through April,” says Alex Jackson Berkley, assis- tant sales manager for Frieda’s Specialty Produce, in Los Alamitos, CA. “The fruit is available domestically from September to October.”
The kiwi berry is a mini-me relative of the larger kiwifruit, but without the fuzzy skin. Like its namesake, it’s very high in vitamin C. Eaten out of hand, tossed into smoothies, made into jam or added whole to fruit or poultry salads are popular culinary uses.
“Sales of kiwi berries are fairly consis- tent from year to year, about a 5 percent increase in interest from year to year,” says Melissa’s Schueller.
Display Goldenberries and kiwi berries with other mainstream berries.
“When in season, these fruits should be merchandised with strawberries, rasp- berries, blueberries and blackberries with at least 1 to 2 facings, rather than in the tropical set. Or ideally, as part of a double sided or adjacent display with berries on one and tropicals on the other,” suggests Frieda’s Jackson Berkeley. pb
96 / OCTOBER 2018 / PRODUCE BUSINESS