Weekly Berries Market Updates
This week's focus is directed towards the German and French wholesale markets, which hold paramount commercial significance for the berries sector. Concerning the market, our agents have shared noteworthy observations, showcased below and backed up with data from the German fresh produce wholesale markets, as well as the market of Rungis, France.
In the German Market, the strawberry sector experienced some ups and downs during the Easter holidays; certain regions presented a limited local demand, while interest and deliveries increased in other areas, causing prices for Mediterranean goods to drop. In Munich, there was a high demand for large-fruited Greek products due to their quality and value for money. Spanish produce faced price reductions due to being pre-packed and slightly ripened. Greece emerges as a noteworthy contender in the export market, leveraging its consistent and plentiful supply throughout the season.
Apart from being pre-packaged and slightly ripened, the wholesale markets in Spain have seen a significant increase in the volume of strawberries, ultimately leading to a decrease in prices. Similarly, Italy, echoes Greece's trajectory, with marginal decreases in strawberry prices. The Netherlands, renowned for its premium quality strawberries, continues to deliver excellence, ensuring a prolonged availability window for consumers. Furthermore, Belgian strawberries are poised for a significant uptick in volume in the forthcoming weeks, as their seasonality varies from the Mediterranean ones. They made their debut but remained more expensive than their Dutch counterparts.
In parallel, the raspberry market landscape is still witnessing notable turbulence across Europe, characterized by limited availability and consequent price surges. Despite these challenges, select operators in Southern Europe distinguish themselves through strategic planning and consistent supply, mitigating the impact of market volatility. Furthermore, despite the heightened awareness surrounding health-related concerns in recent periods, imports of raspberries persist unabated. Prices of imported raspberries and blueberries continue to decline, resulting in an overall decrease in berry market prices.
The landscape of FoodTech is witnessing significant growth, with notable progressions evident within the blueberry industry. California-based Pearl Sort has emerged as a frontrunner with the introduction of Blue Pearl, a portable blueberry sorter powered by AI. This innovative solution offers advanced sorting capabilities, high operational speeds, and a compact footprint, addressing a crucial need within the industry.
Blue Pearl stands out by requiring only one operator while boasting the capacity to sort up to 3.600 kgs of blueberries per hour, ensuring unparalleled efficiency, accuracy, and quality control. Sales Director Jonathan Reed underscores the transformative potential of Blue Pearl, positioning it to revolutionize the industry and provide tangible benefits to stakeholders. Notably, the integration of software ADAM, renowned for its 95% accuracy rate in cherry sorting, into the blueberry market promises further advancements in sorting precision.
In the face of escalating demand and market expansion, technology plays a pivotal role in safeguarding product quality, particularly for perishable goods vulnerable to post-harvest handling. Moreover, a pressing imperative exists to mitigate food wastage throughout the supply chain. Solutions like Blue Pearl contribute significantly to market efficacy and environmental conservation by minimizing the environmental footprint associated with packing operations.
At Wikifarmer, our commitment lies in equipping customers and suppliers with comprehensive insights to mitigate losses attributed to spoilage or damage. Through our platform, we aim to foster informed decision-making and promote practices aligned with the principles of food technology and sustainability.