Blueberry recall in US and rising Mexican supply may affect European markets
Publix has expanded its recall of frozen blueberries in the US due to an E.coli outbreak, while Mexico’s role as a major regional supplier continues to grow.
Publix, a leading US retailer, has broadened its recall of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries and mixed berries to all lots of four potentially contaminated products due to an ongoing multistate E.coli O145 outbreak. The recall includes 10-ounce and 48-ounce packs and follows earlier actions involving Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. The affected products were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The recall has led to a stop-sale order on these frozen blueberries since the end of June 2026, limiting availability in the US retail sector and potentially affecting import demand from Europe and other suppliers. No wholesale price information for blueberries in the US was provided in the sources.
At the same time, the North American blueberry market continues to show rising demand. The US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) reported that blueberry consumption in the US has more than doubled since 2011, with expectations for another doubling within 10 years. Mexico’s importance as a supplier to the US and regional market is growing, with the USHBC president highlighting that US demand cannot be met without Mexican production. This increased Mexican supply could affect export opportunities for European growers, especially during North America’s off-season.
Blueberry supply from Chile also plays a significant role in international trade. Chilean exporters were involved in the recalled lots in the US, which may influence their export focus and quality controls for the European market. The ongoing legal dispute in China between Shenzhen Noposion International Investment Co. Ltd. and Yunnan Meiming Agriculture Co. Ltd. over blueberry variety rights involves claims totaling €4.9 million. While Noposion expects no material impact on production, the outcome could influence future availability and competition from Chinese exporters to Europe.
On East European trading platforms, recent weeks have not shown a notable increase in blueberry trading activity, with tomatoes, plums, and sweet corn dominating listings. Sellers from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan increased their overall fruit and vegetable offers, but no specific blueberry price or volume data was available for these markets.
In July, Polish exports of blueberries outside the EU fell 41% year-on-year, with only 135 tonnes shipped, mainly to Israel (92 t), the United Arab Emirates (10 t), and Jordan (7 t). Most Polish exports remain focused on Western Europe, with Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands as the main destinations. This export decrease may be influenced by competition from overseas suppliers and changing demand in target markets.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI