By Xinhua
Inside a greenhouse located in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West Province, workers carefully hand-pick fresh blueberries from lush green shrubs, ensuring only the best fruit makes it to the baskets.
In recent years, Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry has grown rapidly, bringing local farmers higher incomes. This year, producers are setting their sights on exporting blueberries to China, one of the world’s largest and most lucrative markets. Earlier this month, Zimbabwe signed a trade agreement allowing fresh blueberry exports to China, a move farmers say will spur production to meet the surge in demand. “It is a huge market. They are the biggest exporters of blueberries, among the biggest growers of blueberries, and also one of the biggest importers of blueberries. So, it really has taken off there,” said Alistair Campbell, a blueberry farmer from the province. Supported by favorable climate conditions, increased agricultural investment, and rising demand for this healthy food, Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry is expanding. According to the country’s Horticultural Development Council (HDC), production is expected to rise from 8,000 metric tons in 2024 to 12,000 metric tons in 2025.
Farmers believe that Zimbabwe’s strategic geographic location — allowing early access to global markets — gives the country a competitive edge. “Our product is well received. We get big, nice-tasting berries. And it’s well-received in the market thus far. We just need more scale, more blueberries,” Campbell said, adding that the opportunity to export to China positions Zimbabwe as a significant player in blueberry production.
