Catalog buyer guide · Berries
Blueberry purchase specification: size, firmness, bloom and cold chain
Sources reviewed: · SeedMatch Group editorial team
Short answer
The UNECE berry standard (2023 edition) defines quality classes, bloom and tolerances for blueberries but states there are no sizing requirements, so the buyer must specify size in millimetres. A complete specification also covers variety, firmness, bloom, defects, punnet format, cooling to about 0 °C and the import documents for the destination.
What the international standard requires
The UNECE Standard FFV-57 for berry fruits (2023 edition) covers fresh blueberries supplied to the consumer; berries for industrial processing are excluded. In all classes, berries must be intact, sound, clean, practically free from pests and pest damage, fresh in appearance, free of abnormal external moisture and free of foreign smell or taste.
Berries must be sufficiently developed and show satisfactory maturity or ripeness according to the species, but must not be overripe. Their condition must allow them to withstand transport and handling and arrive in satisfactory condition.
Sources: [1] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Classes, bloom and tolerances
- Extra Class and Class I berries must be practically uniform in ripeness.
- Each package must be uniform in origin, variety or species and quality.
- The standard states: “There are no sizing requirements for berry fruits.”
| Class | Blueberry-specific wording | Defects allowed | Quality tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra | Practically free of agglomerated berries; practically covered with bloom according to the variety. | Only very slight superficial defects. | 5% meeting Class I |
| Class I | Practically free of agglomerated berries; practically covered with bloom according to the variety. | Very slight leakage of juice, very slight bruising. | 10% meeting Class II |
| Class II | Meets minimum requirements. | Slight leakage of juice, slight bruising. | 10% meeting neither class nor minimums |
Sources: [1] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
The fields a buyer specification should add
SeedMatch analysis
Because the standard leaves size and commercial thresholds open, a workable blueberry specification usually states the following. Values are set by the buyer and confirmed in the supplier's offer; none are SeedMatch defaults.
Variety and origin
Named variety or accepted varieties, country and region, and whether the programme is conventional or certified organic.
Size
A minimum berry diameter in millimetres, or a size band, and the sampling method for checking it on arrival. Since the UNECE standard sets no size, this line is what separates a premium programme from a standard one.
Bloom, colour and firmness
Bloom coverage expectation (the standard already requires it in Extra and Class I), colour, and the firmness method and threshold you will apply; soft or wet fruit is the most frequent arrival complaint.
Defects and decay
Your limits for soft, split, shrivelled, red or unripe berries, stems and leaves, and visible mould, in addition to the class tolerances.
Packing
Punnet size and net weight, clamshell or film, cartons per pallet, labelling and the identification required by the destination market.
Sources: [1] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Cold chain and decay risk
UC Davis gives an optimum temperature of 0 ± 0.5 °C at 90–95% relative humidity for bushberries, with about one to two weeks of storage life for blueberries. Berries lose water easily, which causes shrivelling and loss of gloss; holding humidity and temperature limits that loss.
Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) continues to grow even at 0 °C, although slowly, while Rhizopus rot does not grow below 5 °C. That is why buyers ask for fast cooling after harvest, an unbroken cold chain and temperature-logger data for the whole transit.
Sources: [2] UC Davis Postharvest Research and Extension Center
Import documents and market access
Fresh blueberries crossing borders normally travel with a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country, following ISPM 12. Some origin–destination pairs also require a protocol, registered growers and packhouses or a cold-treatment schedule; these vary by pair and must be confirmed with the destination authority. For example, South African blueberry access to China is on SeedMatch's watchlist and is not open.
Residue limits are those of the destination country; the Codex database is a reference, not a substitute.
- Phytosanitary certificate and any additional declarations or treatment records the destination requires.
- Confirmation that the origin, grower and packhouse are admitted for the destination, where a protocol applies.
- Residue test results against destination limits.
- Temperature-logger data, packing list, invoice and the agreed Incoterm.
Sources: [3] International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), FAO, [4] Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO)
From specification to request
SeedMatch analysis
The catalog berries page includes a request form for variety, size, quality, packing, volume and delivery window. A specification written to the fields above lets the team compare offers on the same basis. SeedMatch does not publish prices or availability, and every offer must be confirmed in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Does the UNECE berry standard set a blueberry size?
No. The UNECE Standard FFV-57 (2023 edition) states there are no sizing requirements for berry fruits, so the buyer should specify a minimum diameter or size band in millimetres and how it will be checked.
What does bloom mean in a blueberry specification?
Bloom is the natural waxy coating on the berry. The UNECE standard requires Extra Class and Class I blueberries to be practically covered with bloom according to the variety; heavy handling removes it.
What quality tolerances apply?
By number or weight: 5% for Extra Class (meeting Class I), 10% for Class I (meeting Class II) and 10% for Class II (meeting neither class nor minimum requirements), with limits for decay inside those tolerances.
What temperature should blueberries be held at?
UC Davis gives 0 ± 0.5 °C at 90–95% relative humidity, with roughly one to two weeks of storage life. Grey mould still grows slowly at 0 °C, so fast cooling and an unbroken cold chain matter.
Can blueberries from any origin be shipped to any market?
No. Access depends on the origin–destination pair. Some pairs require a protocol, registered sites or cold treatment; others are not open. Check the destination authority before contracting.
Ready to send a blueberry specification?
Use the berries request in the catalog to send variety, size, class, packing, volume and delivery window. A specialist reviews each request before any supplier is approached. Commercial programmes start at USD 250,000.
Produce procurement is coordinated through Global B2B Group, SeedMatch Group's parent group. globalb2bgroup.com
Each participant remains responsible under applicable law for the requirements of its own role. Producers and exporters are responsible for the products and shipments they supply; buyers and importers for import permissions, local requirements and due diligence. This article is not legal or regulatory advice.
Availability and the ability to trade depend on the law of each origin, destination and transit country and on the relevant permits and approvals. SeedMatch Group is not a manufacturer, importer, exporter, seller or regulatory approver; requests are reviewed by our team before any commercial introduction. Each participant is responsible for the requirements of its own role under applicable law: suppliers for their products in the origin and destination countries, buyers for their own import permissions and due diligence. We do not guarantee any supplier's compliance. Participant responsibilities · Regulation & restricted items
Related catalog pages and guides
References
Official standards and research sources cited in this guide. Points marked “SeedMatch analysis” are our interpretation.
- UNECE Standard FFV-57 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of berry fruits (2023 edition) — United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) · 2023
- Bushberries: produce facts — quality, temperature, humidity and decay — UC Davis Postharvest Research and Extension Center · accessed 2026-10-27
- ISPM 12: Phytosanitary certificates — International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), FAO · accessed 2026-10-27
- Codex pesticide residues in food — maximum residue limits database — Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) · accessed 2026-10-27