Peru's blueberry industry is moving past climate forecasting and into active operational planning after the latest El Niño outlook from the country's national monitoring commission. Growers and exporters are now preparing for the potential effects of a prolonged El Niño on the upcoming season.
Peru is the world's largest blueberry exporter and a critical supply source for North American retail and foodservice from October through January. El Niño conditions have historically disrupted bloom timing, fruit set, and post-harvest logistics in the country's key growing regions.
This is an evolving situation to track closely heading into fall planning cycles — category managers building Q4 blueberry programs should factor in potential volume and timing variability from Peru's crop.