SeedMatchGroup

Trade corridor · Fresh blueberries

Fresh blueberries from Morocco to the UK and EU: season, controls and what to put in an RFQ

Sources reviewed: · SeedMatch Group editorial team

Short answer

Yes, this corridor trades today. Morocco became the UK's top blueberry supplier in July 2024 to June 2025, and Spain and the Netherlands took even more Moroccan fruit (IBO citing EastFruit, August 2025). Moroccan blueberries ship from December to June, peaking in April. ONSSA issues export phytosanitary certificates; the EU requires a certificate, and UK import conditions depend on the current GB risk category.

  • Southern Morocco supplies roughly January–March and the north April–June (IBO interview, September 2025).
  • EU: a phytosanitary certificate is required; blueberries are not among the exempt fruits.
  • Great Britain: check the current BTOM risk category and whether IPAFFS pre-notification applies to Moroccan Vaccinium fruit.
  • Moroccan fruit fills the gap between Peru's autumn peak and Europe's own summer crop.

Market research, not SeedMatch inventory: this page summarises public, dated sources. SeedMatch Group does not hold blueberry stock; supply is sourced only after a buyer's request is reviewed.

What is confirmed and what to check before shipping

ItemStatusWhat the sources show
Current trade to the UK and EUConfirmedMorocco was the UK's top supplier in July 2024–June 2025; Spain and the Netherlands were larger destinations (IBO citing EastFruit, 20 August 2025).
Moroccan export certificationConfirmedONSSA's guide to phytosanitary procedures includes the export phytosanitary certificate request (2021).
EU phytosanitary certificateConfirmedRegulation (EU) 2019/2072; only pineapples, coconuts, durians, bananas and dates are exempt.
GB risk category and IPAFFS for Moroccan blueberriesTo confirmDEFRA's plant health portal (updated 14 October 2026) says high-risk and medium-risk A goods need a phytosanitary certificate and IPAFFS pre-notification, and medium-risk B goods need a certificate only. Which category Moroccan Vaccinium fruit falls in could not be confirmed. Check before shipping.
Current EU additional requirements for VacciniumTo confirmThe current consolidated version on EUR-Lex is dated 6 July 2026; its Vaccinium entries could not be retrieved for this review. Check them before shipping.

At a glance

Product
Fresh blueberries (Vaccinium)
Origin authority
ONSSA, Morocco
Destinations
United Kingdom (Great Britain), Spain, Netherlands and other EU markets
Season
December–June; peak April
Trade position
UK's top supplier in July 2024–June 2025
Cold chain
0 ± 0.5 °C, 90–95% RH (UC Davis)

Season

Shipping windowPeak stated by a sourceIndicative Moroccan blueberry shipping window

IBO reports a December to June export window peaking in April. Southern areas supply first, from about January to March, and northern areas from April to June.

For European retailers this is the spring bridge between Peru and Chile (autumn and winter) and Europe's own summer crop.

Grades and berry size

  • There is no universal "jumbo" threshold; state berry diameter and tolerance in millimetres.
  • Agree firmness, bloom and defect tolerances and how they are measured.

Packaging

  • Retail clamshells commonly range from 125 g to 510 g; confirm the formats each exporter packs.
  • Confirm UK and EU labelling for the retailer and the outer carton and pallet layout.

Cold chain

  • UC Davis recommends 0 ± 0.5 °C and 90–95% relative humidity for blueberries.
  • Road and short-sea routes to Spain, the Netherlands and the UK make temperature records at each handover important.

Phytosanitary and import controls

Morocco

ONSSA certifies exports and issues the phytosanitary certificate.

European Union

A phytosanitary certificate is required under Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Check the current annexes for any additional declaration.

Great Britain

Imports from non-EU countries follow the Border Target Operating Model. IPAFFS replaced PEACH in April 2024. Check the current risk category for Moroccan Vaccinium fruit, and whether pre-notification and a certificate are required. Northern Ireland follows different rules.

Fields to put in a commercial RFQ

Ask every exporter to answer the same fields so offers are comparable.

  • Destination (GB, Spain, Netherlands or other EU) and delivery point.
  • Varieties acceptable and berry diameter in millimetres.
  • Clamshell size, retailer labelling and carton format.
  • Growing region (south or north) and weekly volume by month.
  • Phytosanitary certificate and, for GB, the IPAFFS responsibility.
  • Transport mode, temperature set point and records.
  • Incoterms and payment terms.

Who buys

  • UK and EU supermarket programmes, usually through specialist importers.
  • Importers in Spain and the Netherlands that pack and redistribute.
  • Wholesalers supplying fruit shops and foodservice.

European spring supply compared

Morocco competes with other spring origins; windows overlap.

OriginMain windowPeakNote
MoroccoDec–JunAprilThis corridor
SpainFeb–JunApr–JunAlso imports Moroccan fruit (CBI)
PeruAug–DecOct–NovAutumn supply; see the Peru corridor

Frequently asked questions

When is the Moroccan blueberry season?

December to June, peaking in April. The south ships first, the north from April.

Is Morocco the UK's top blueberry supplier?

It was in July 2024–June 2025, according to IBO citing EastFruit.

Do Moroccan blueberries need a phytosanitary certificate?

For the EU, yes. For Great Britain, check the current BTOM risk category for Moroccan Vaccinium fruit.

Who certifies Moroccan blueberries for export?

ONSSA, Morocco's national food safety office, issues export phytosanitary certificates.

Does SeedMatch Group sell blueberries?

No. This page is market research. SeedMatch Group runs a buyer-first, human-reviewed request process; programmes are sourced through its parent group's marketplace, Global B2B Group, without direct buyer–exporter contact.

Planning a programme on this route?

Send a private, specification-led request: fruit, variety, grade, pack, treatment route, arrival window and weekly volume. A sourcing specialist reviews it before any exporter is approached. Free for buyers; managed programmes from USD 250,000.

Send a managed fresh produce RFQ

Fruit and other food commodity programmes run through Global B2B Group, the parent group's buyer-first marketplace. Global B2B Group

Cold storage, ripening rooms and refrigerated logistics infrastructure: ColdMatch Group. coldmatchgroup.com

Related

Sources

Official and industry documents reviewed on 25 October 2026, with their publication dates.

Next step

Turn this into a live commercial project

Open one private brief. A sourcing specialist validates and organises the RFQ, manages outreach to suitable independent suppliers, and presents any responses through SeedMatch on a consistent technical and commercial basis. Response numbers and timing are not guaranteed.

Start an RFQ Project financing Talk to a specialist