Producers, exporters, service providers, and agricultural technicians agree that the 2015-2016 harvest, which is about to end, will be one of the least productive harvests mainly because of the climatic changes that have plagued the region. There have been atypical rains and intense hailstorms (less hours of light), strong winds, and thermal shock caused by the extreme and contrasting temperatures as the temperature during the day rises above 34° C and it falls to 9° C by dawn. Additionally the crops have been affected by the proliferation of pests and diseases.
The sector believes the production volume will be 30% to 50% lower than expected, so instead of achieving the 20 million half pint (2,400 kg) cases they had forecasted for this harvest they might only produce 10 to 11 million boxes.
In contrast, and as a result of the shortage of quality fruit, the prices achieved have been among the best in recent crops. However, there have also been major fluctuations in prices. In the last week there were packing companies paying 70 pesos per box, while others paid 90, 100, 130 pesos, and one of the leading companies even paid its suppliers of blackberries up to 230 pesos per box.
This fluctuation in blackberry prices is due to several factors that have to do with the fruit's quality, companies paying below market prices so that their providers don't sell their fruits to other companies and remain with them, and the speculation in blackberry prices.
