Fact Check: Is Zimbabwe the number one blueberry exporter in the world?

CLAIM: Local media reports claimed Zimbabwe is the leading blueberry exporter in the world. This was attributed to a 2023 study by EastFruit, an information and analytical platform for the fruit and vegetable business. A section of the report reads:

“In 2022, Zimbabwe saw an 85% growth in blueberry exports, surpassing 5,000 tonnes, elevating the country to the top 15 global exporters list. According to a recent report, Zimbabwe is presently the foremost global exporter of blueberries, outpacing all other nations in growth”.

Is this true or false?

Verdict: False

Blueberry production in Zimbabwe?

According to the Horticultural Development Council (HDC), Zimbabwe where climatic conditions allow high yields from open field planting and early delivery into export markets doubled its blueberry production to 7,000 metric tons this year. Andrij Yarmak, an economist at the investment department of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, Zimbabwe’s blueberry exports are currently growing faster than any other country in the world.

Who are the top exporters of blueberries in the world?

According to the International Blueberry Organisation’s Global State of the Blueberry Industry Report for 2023, these are the top blueberry exporters in the world since 2019.

Number	Country	2019 exports	2020 exports	2021 exports	2022 exports
1	Peru	134.82	170.63	215.20	285.78
2	Netherlands	64.84	85.41	91.52	117.28
3	Chile	111.45	105.79	111.86	104.16
4	Mexico	46.14	57.26	72.46	75.90
5	Spain	45.99	41.27	55.23	57.69
6	Morocco	24.66	32.69	42.01	51.84
7	South Africa	13.06	18.07	21.89	26.91
8	Poland	13.62	18.30	21.05	23.09
9	United States	19.22	22.00	22.38	20.55
10	Hong Kong	12.31	15.38	23.07	20.22

2023 Top 10 Fresh Cultivated Exports by Country (000) Metric Tones

Where does Zimbabwe rank in Africa?

Sub region	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
South Africa	8.07	13.06	18.29	21.90	26.90
Zimbabwe	0.48	1.33	2.45	2.57	3.34
Zambia	0.00	0.00	0.21	0.44	0.23
Ghana	–	–	–	0.14	0.02
Namibia	–	–	0.16	0.16	0.14
Others	0.02	0.02	0.05	0.01	0.00
Africa totals	8.58	14.42	21.17	25.22	30.63

Africa Exports by Reporter (Country) (000) Metric Tones

Where are blueberries grown in Zimbabwe?

Mashonaland East
Mashonaland West
Mashonaland Central.

Where does Zimbabwe export its blueberries to?

Currently, berries from Zimbabwe are being exported to:

United Kingdom
The European Union member states,
Russia
The Far East
The Middle East.
South Africa

Conclusion

Zimbabwe is not the leading exporter as claimed. However, it is said that for the past five years, Zimbabwe has the fastest growing blueberry industry.