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Trade corridor · Fresh blueberries

Fresh blueberries from Peru to the United States, China and the EU: treatments, season and RFQ fields

Sources reviewed: · SeedMatch Group editorial team

Short answer

Peru is the world's largest fresh-blueberry exporter (MIDAGRI, October 2025), shipping mainly from August to December with the peak in October and November. Each destination sets its own controls: the US accepts cold treatment, methyl bromide fumigation or irradiation; China requires registered sites and one of three cold-treatment schedules; the EU requires a phytosanitary certificate.

  • US: cold treatment or methyl bromide, plus irradiation at 150 Gy in approved US facilities since March 2018 (APHIS).
  • China: ≤1.11 °C for 15 days, ≤1.67 °C for 17 days or <2.00 °C for 22 days, at origin or in transit (SENASA–AQSIQ protocol).
  • EU: a phytosanitary certificate is required; blueberries are not among the exempt fruits.
  • Common retail packs: 125 g, 170 g (6 oz), 340 g (12 oz) and 510 g (18 oz) clamshells.

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
US treatment optionsConfirmedCold treatment or methyl bromide for fruit flies, plus irradiation at 150 Gy (APHIS bulletin, 13 March 2018).
Current US entry record (ACIR)To confirmACIR replaced FAVIR on 30 September 2022; check the live record for the exact schedule, permit and port conditions.
US systems approach for PeruUnknownNo official approval found. Chile's 2020 systems approach does not apply to Peru.
China protocol and cold treatmentConfirmedSENASA–AQSIQ work protocol (2016, published April 2017): registered orchards, packhouses, cold stores and treatment facilities; three cold-treatment schedules.
2026 registered-site list for ChinaConfirmedSENASA published the 2026 list of blueberry production sites and packhouses for China (10 June 2026) and explains how to check each site's code in the official GACC system. Check the code of every supplying site; whether the 2016 protocol has since been amended was not confirmed.
EU phytosanitary certificateConfirmedRegulation (EU) 2019/2072; the Commission lists only pineapples, coconuts, durians, bananas and dates as exempt fruits.
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 for any origin-specific declaration.

At a glance

Product
Fresh blueberries (Vaccinium)
Origin authority
SENASA, Peru
Destinations
United States, China, EU (mainly Netherlands)
Season
Mainly August–December; peak October–November
China treatment
Cold treatment: 15, 17 or 22 days by temperature
Cold chain
0 ± 0.5 °C, 90–95% RH (UC Davis)

Season

Shipping windowPeak stated by a sourceIndicative Peruvian blueberry shipping window

Peru's exports build from August, and USDA reported the 2024/25 peak in October and November. IBO and Agronometrics give August to November as historical peak months.

Shipments into January were not verified in the sources reviewed; confirm late-season availability with the exporter.

Grades and berry size

  • There is no universal "jumbo" threshold; state the berry diameter and tolerance you need in millimetres.
  • Ask for firmness, colour (bloom) and defect tolerances, with the method used to measure them.

Packaging

  • Retail clamshells of 125 g, 170 g (6 oz), 340 g (12 oz) and 510 g (18 oz) are offered by Peruvian exporters.
  • Confirm the outer carton, labels and pallet configuration for each destination.

Cold chain

  • UC Davis recommends 0 ± 0.5 °C and 90–95% relative humidity for blueberries.
  • For China, in-transit cold treatment is monitored under SENASA supervision; keep the probe records with the documents.

Phytosanitary and import controls

United States

Cold treatment or methyl bromide fumigation against Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata, or irradiation at 150 Gy in approved US facilities. Check the live APHIS ACIR record before shipping.

China

Orchards, packhouses, cold stores and treatment facilities must be registered by SENASA and approved by China. Cold treatment at origin (air) or in transit (sea): ≤1.11 °C for 15 days, ≤1.67 °C for 17 days or <2.00 °C for 22 days.

European Union

A phytosanitary certificate under Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Check the current annexes for any extra declaration for Vaccinium from Peru.

Fields to put in a commercial RFQ

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

  • Destination and the treatment route it requires.
  • Varieties acceptable and berry diameter in millimetres.
  • Clamshell size, carton format and labels.
  • Registered orchard and packhouse (for China, confirm approval).
  • Air or sea, and in-transit treatment monitoring.
  • Weekly volume across August–December.
  • Temperature records and certificate copy before departure.
  • Incoterms and payment terms.

Who buys

  • Specialist importers who run supermarket programmes; CBI calls blueberries a typical retail product.
  • Wholesalers supplying fruit shops, restaurants and hotels.
  • Importers in China and Hong Kong, a destination since the first shipments of 2017.

Destination rules compared

One Peruvian blueberry lot can be eligible for one destination and not another.

DestinationTreatmentRegistrationCertificate
United StatesCold, methyl bromide or irradiation (150 Gy)Per ACIR recordYes
ChinaCold: 15 / 17 / 22 daysSENASA-registered and China-approved sitesYes
European UnionNo general treatment foundNot a corridor-specific listYes

Frequently asked questions

What treatment do Peruvian blueberries need for the US?

Cold treatment or methyl bromide fumigation, or irradiation at 150 Gy in approved US facilities. Check the current APHIS ACIR record.

What cold treatment does China require?

≤1.11 °C for 15 days, ≤1.67 °C for 17 days, or <2.00 °C for 22 days, at origin or in transit under SENASA supervision.

When is the Peruvian blueberry peak?

October and November, within a main season from about August to December.

Do blueberries need a phytosanitary certificate for the EU?

Yes. Blueberries are not among the fruits exempted by the European Commission.

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

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