Australian Blueberry Industry: Production, Varieties & Growth

Introduction

Native to North America, the blueberry is also known as bilberries, whortleberries, and hurtleberries (Filippone 2006). The blueberry is a member of the Ericaceae, or Heather family, and its growth was regulated by the indigenous peoples of North America (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 2005). Blueberries belong to the genus Vaccinium, which originates from the Latin word vacca, meaning cow. Captain James Cook, in the late 1700s, noted in his records that cows were particularly fond of eating this berry (Filippone 2006). The first European settlers recognised these berries as analogous to varieties found in their homelands — for example, the blaeberry found in Scotland, whortleberries in Ireland, bilberries in Denmark, blabar in Sweden, and bickberren and blauberren in Germany (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 2005).

The most widespread blueberry varieties are known as the "highbush" blueberry. The wild "lowbush" varieties have become a growing favourite in recent years owing to their health attributes (Filippone 2006). Blueberries are well known for being rich in antioxidant compounds that fight free radicals associated with cancer, heart disease, and premature ageing (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 2005).

Introductory Production Information

To be productive, blueberry bushes require full, unobstructed sun exposure and organically rich, sandy, acidic soil. Many reports indicate that blueberry plants have the capacity to live for fifty years or more and can grow to over 2.5 metres in height; bushes must therefore be planted with their growth potential in mind (Cross 2009). Minimising the introduction of poor-quality berries into the supply chain leads to an increase in overall product quality and grade (Chiasson 1996). Producing quality blueberries is strongly dependent on appropriate harvesting technique and excellent fertility and pollination programmes (Yarborough 1994).

Given Australia's long history of problematic feral species introductions, the initial introduction of blueberries in the 1950s was entirely unsuccessful. During the early 1970s, David Jones and Ridley Bell of the Victorian Department of Agriculture were determined to establish blueberries in Australia and began importing seed from both Canada and the United States. During this period, the Australian Blueberry Growers Association (ABGA) was formed (Clayton-Greene 1999). Victoria was the first state to grow blueberries commercially, around 1974. A decade later, a second crop of commercially viable cultivars was planted on the north coast of New South Wales (DPI 2008).

Approximately 50% of Australian blueberries are sold as fresh market fruit into the domestic market, 30% is exported to Asia and Europe, and the remaining 20% is processed, principally as frozen product (DPI 2008). Australian consumers can enjoy fresh blueberries almost year-round, with peak production occurring from October to March. This sustained market presence is due primarily to the geographic spread of crops and the diversity of Australia's climate (ABS 2008).

Australian and World Production

In 2009, the United States produced 165,198 metric tonnes of blueberries (FAO Stats 2010). Maine is the world's largest producer of lowbush blueberries, producing over 25% of the North American lowbush total (Fedefruta 2007). Michigan leads in highbush production; in 1998, Michigan farms produced 220,000 metric tonnes of blueberries (Michigan Department of Agriculture 2010).

In 2009, Canada produced 103,070 metric tonnes of blueberries (FAO Stats 2010). British Columbia has been identified as one of the most productive growing regions in the world and is the largest Canadian producer of highbush blueberries, yielding 29,000 metric tonnes in 2004 (British Columbia Blueberry Council 2007). Atlantic Canada has experienced a threefold increase in production since the 1980s, contributing approximately 68,000 metric tonnes — nearly half of total North American annual production (Yarborough 2004; British Columbia Blueberry Council 2007).

In 2009, Europe produced 35,242 metric tonnes of blueberries (FAO Stats 2010). The biggest producer of wild blueberries in Europe is located in Litløya, Norway (Naumann 1993). Highbush blueberries were first introduced to Germany and the Netherlands in the 1930s, and are now cultivated in Poland, Italy, Hungary, and Sweden (Naumann 1993). The northeastern part of Turkey is also one of the main sources of wild blueberries in the Mediterranean region (Naumann 1993).

In 2009, the Southern Hemisphere — comprising Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia — produced approximately 31,000 metric tonnes of blueberries (FAO Stats 2010). Production continues to increase across all Australian states. In 2010, Australia produced over 2,400 tonnes of blueberries, valued at over $30 million (ABGA 2011). Argentina's blueberry farming industry has seen a 400% increase in production over the preceding three years (USDA 2009). In South America, Chile is the largest exporter to the Northern Hemisphere, with an estimated cultivation area of 6,800 hectares (Asoex 2007). In 2007, Chile exported more than 21,000 metric tonnes of fresh blueberries and more than 1,000 metric tonnes of frozen product (Fedefruta 2007).