Why do we invite you to Huelva ...?
Cranberry cultivation has become a global practice and all that is relevant to its development interests the producers of the different continents and locations, although they come from different geographical realities, soil, climate, or economic development.
This global reality is one of the reasons that motivate us to invite them to attend the 9º 2017 INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR, which will be held on November 9, at the Barceló Punta Umbría Beach Resort Hotel, Huelva, Spain. It is the first time that we crossed the ocean to internalize ourselves and share experiences with the actors of the European industry and of regions other than the American ones.
The world production of cranberry is a closed and constant circle, which allows, along with the agility of transport, to have fresh fruit all year round, anywhere in the world. In the case of Europe, the main blueberry producing countries are Poland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Portugal. Cranberries are also grown in Ukraine, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland. In addition to other producing areas such as Morocco in Africa, or Japan and China in Asia.
Huelva
At the beginning of the 90 the cultivation of blueberries began in the province of Huelva, with an initial plantation of 3 has, increasing steadily to the thousands existing today, although in Spain the first commercial blueberry plot was installed in the year 1967, in Tineo, Asturias, however, it was not until the end of the 80 that the first professional plantations appeared in Asturias and Galicia. Currently, Huelva is the province with the highest production of blueberries in Spain, being also the largest producing area in Europe for early spring harvest.
Science and the increase of consumption
Despite being one of the most recently introduced species in the world fruit production, the production and consumption of blueberries in the last decades has had a spectacular growth, both in North America, where there was already a great tradition due to the great availability of these fruits from wild populations, as in other countries of the European continent, Asia and even in some countries of the southern hemisphere, with little or no tradition of consumption.
Manuel Alcaíno, president of Decofrut, proposes to make the most of this growth in blueberry consumption that is seen worldwide and highlights that blueberries are the fruit that grows the most globally. “In the United States, there was an increase in consumption of the order of 30% in 4 years, which corresponds to an increase of 7 to 8 annual percent, figure that is interesting considering that the growth of the world consumption of fruits and vegetables is close to 3%. It is, therefore, a good figure, which speaks of a mature industry” he comments, adding that the consumption of blueberries is increasing almost twice in new markets such as Europe and Asia, when compared to traditional markets.
To this growth have contributed fundamentally the numerous scientific studies realized on this fruit in the last years, that have demonstrated the big quantity of beneficial effects that has on the human health. Scientific research has discovered in the cranberry multiple properties, from benefits for sight, which was one of the first that was attributed to this fruit, to its contribution to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease or cancer. It is currently an undisputed antioxidant and is part of the diet in much of the planet.
One of the first to detect the globalization of blueberry cultivation and its consumption was Cort Brazelton *, in his research text World Blueberry Acreage & Production, published in February 2011, citing an Egyptian producer who discusses the Middle East market :
"People in the west of the world are not the only ones interested in eating healthy and enjoying good food"
In the text, Brazelton concludes that: "The continued efforts in research, dissemination of the health message, generic promotion activity and market development will be fundamental to support the sustained growth in the use and consumption of blueberries around the world. In an increasingly interconnected world, global cooperation on key issues, which transcend the commercial interests of individual entities, presents exciting opportunities to build a strong and sustainable future for everyone in the blueberry industry. "
* Cort Brazelton is Director of Business Development at Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, and will present the topic: "The role of Spain in the global blueberry market and the importance of genetics", at the 9th INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR that will be held on November 9 in Huelva, Spain.
Source: Martín Carrillo O. - Blueberries Consulting
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