Rich hopes: Prospects for growing blueberries in Georgia according to experts"

The news of Georgia's agriculture is pleasing every year, and one of the most interesting achievements has been the revolution in blueberry cultivation. The export of this delicious berry in recent years has become a real lucrative occupation for the country, and experts' forecasts promise even more.

Georgia's revenues from blueberry exports have been growing rapidly in recent years, overcoming themselves and reaching $18.5 million in 2023. The project to grow this incredibly popular berry has shown how effectively agriculture can become the engine of the economy.

But the future brings even brighter prospects. According to a study by the investment company Galt&Taggart, by 2027 the production of blueberries in Georgia will increase to 25 million tons compared to 4 tons in 2023. This is an ambitious goal that could lead to a new wave of economic growth.

The secret of success lies in the increased support of the Georgian government, which actively encourages farmers to grow blueberries. In different parts of the country, from Imereti to Guria, there are plantations of this amazing berry, covering hundreds of hectares.

Georgia occupies a worthy seventh place in the world ranking of blueberry cultivation. Its garden areas are 2000 hectares, and the yield per hectare is 14.5 tons. This is a high indicator that gives the country a weighty word on the world stage of blueberry production.

The blueberry sector, as a young industry, faces some challenges. Experts recommend manufacturers to pay close attention to quality control, diversity of export markets and infrastructure improvement. These steps can help ensure the sustainable development of the sector in the next 5-10 years.

Revenues from blueberry exports are increasing every year, reaching $18.5 million in 2023. This success cannot be called accidental in any way – it is the result of the joint efforts of farmers, the government and economists working to create a sustainable and prosperous industry.

Global blueberry production is also going up. From 2017 to 2021, it increased by 19.6% annually, reaching 1.8 billion kilograms. These trends, according to forecasts, will lead to the fact that by 2025 this volume will increase to three billion kilograms.

The largest producers and consumers of blueberries are the USA and China. These two powers form the supply and demand in the world market. Blueberry exports are also actively developing in the countries of Peru, Chile, Spain, Canada and the Netherlands.

In January-June, when the market is dominated by European blueberries, the price per kilogram remains stable, but by summer prices are falling due to the large number of supplies of cheap blueberries from other countries.