The Moroccan blueberry season is currently in full swing, with large harvest volumes arriving. The industry continues to grow steadily, attracting more growers each year. Salah Eddine Belkadi, Commercial Director of Unique Packing, shares the season’s key points.
The exporter says: “Over the past decade, Morocco has become a key player in the global blueberry market, thanks to its ideal climate, strategic location, and investment in high-value-added agriculture. Today, Moroccan blueberries are widely recognized for their quality, shelf life, and traceability, backed by certifications such as GlobalG.A.P., GRASP, and SMETA. According to official figures, last season’s exports reached over 50,000 tonnes of fresh blueberries and 6,000 tonnes of frozen blueberries. With an increase in acreage of 7,000 hectares, of which 30% is in Souss Massa (central Morocco) and 70% in Loukkos (northern Morocco), we expect Moroccan blueberry exports to increase by 20% this season.”
At this stage of the season, demand is keeping up with the increase in supply. Belkadi explains: “There is currently strong demand from customers in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf countries. The price range is satisfactory, although prices were 22% higher on average at the end of February and beginning of March due to gaps in supply from Peru and Chile.”
He adds: “Such dynamic demand is driven by an advantage of seasonality. Morocco fills a major window between the end of South American exports in January and the start of European production in May, making it an essential supplier from late winter to early spring. We benefit from other equally decisive advantages, such as shorter transit times (3–5 days versus 20+ for Peru and Chile), a lower carbon footprint, competitive costs, early availability, and a better match with retailers’ sustainability objectives.”
The campaign is progressing well overall, especially on the commercial side, but some issues remain. Belkadi explains: “Growers are facing a labor shortage, particularly in Larache, which worsens during peak harvest periods. Logistics are not entirely smooth due to congestion at the ports. There is also still some way to go to achieve consistent quality from the new growers who have recently entered the sector and are still gaining experience.”
“This is why it’s essential to work with packing houses that are well established in the industry, and that’s our role at Unique Packing. We offer our customers solid logistics and quality systems, backed by our experience in sourcing, marketing, and delivering premium Moroccan blueberries to the global market over the past four seasons,” Belkadi concludes.
The exporter says: “Over the past decade, Morocco has become a key player in the global blueberry market, thanks to its ideal climate, strategic location, and investment in high-value-added agriculture. Today, Moroccan blueberries are widely recognized for their quality, shelf life, and traceability, backed by certifications such as GlobalG.A.P., GRASP, and SMETA. According to official figures, last season’s exports reached over 50,000 tonnes of fresh blueberries and 6,000 tonnes of frozen blueberries. With an increase in acreage of 7,000 hectares, of which 30% is in Souss Massa (central Morocco) and 70% in Loukkos (northern Morocco), we expect Moroccan blueberry exports to increase by 20% this season.”
He adds: “Such dynamic demand is driven by an advantage of seasonality. Morocco fills a major window between the end of South American exports in January and the start of European production in May, making it an essential supplier from late winter to early spring. We benefit from other equally decisive advantages, such as shorter transit times (3–5 days versus 20+ for Peru and Chile), a lower carbon footprint, competitive costs, early availability, and a better match with retailers’ sustainability objectives.”
“This is why it’s essential to work with packing houses that are well established in the industry, and that’s our role at Unique Packing. We offer our customers solid logistics and quality systems, backed by our experience in sourcing, marketing, and delivering premium Moroccan blueberries to the global market over the past four seasons,” Belkadi concludes.
