It’s still early days in the Zimbabwean blueberry season, but Delecta Fruit and its grower partners have already moved decisively, sending three trial airfreight pallets to China, the first from Zimbabwe to do so. Delecta chose the fastest route: methyl bromide fumigation before packing, followed by road transport to Johannesburg and airfreight to Shanghai via Hong Kong.

China holds “massive sales potential,” says Rossouw Lambrechts, who has led Delecta Fruit’s blueberry category since its inception. “We’re already trading in other commodities, like pome fruit and stone fruit at large scale in China, so the market’s not unknown to us. We are taking our first steps in the Chinese blueberry market with a client with whom our relationship goes back many years.”

© Delecta Fruit
Delecta Fruit’s first blueberries from Zimbabwe arrived in China this weekend

With domestically grown blueberries still available in China, Delecta Fruit is carefully positioning Zimbabwean fruit. To differentiate and add value to its growers, the company is initially supplying only premium large berries (18mm and above).

Access to China was granted in early May under strict phytosanitary requirements. Orchards must be inspected and registered, with integrated pest management (IPM) systems in place and phytosanitary pests tightly controlled. In addition, fruit must undergo fumigation or cold sterilization prior to arrival.

The reward, Lambrechts notes, is significant: a high-volume market that can absorb volumes comparable to the EU and UK. “Hong Kong, Singapore and a few other Southeast Asian markets take Zimbabwean blueberries, but in smaller volumes. China is an opportunity to put down large volumes – it’s like a second Europe for Zimbabwe, volume-wise.”

© Delecta Fruit

Zimbabwe’s blueberry sector continues to expand, with growers investing in new plantings and modern varieties. Delecta Fruit’s close involvement in both production and marketing positions it at the forefront of this growth, he says.

“If and when South African blueberries are given access to China, it’ll mean even more to South African farmers, purely because of their timing. Zimbabwe can sell to most markets comfortably because of their timing, but in South Africa’s peak window, Peru is the main player, so an additional market in a time of tough supply competition will be worth a lot to South African growers.”

© Delecta Fruit
Fumigation under strictly controlled conditions

For more information:
Rossouw Lambrechts
Delecta Fruit
Email: [email protected]
https://www.delecta.co.za/