Colombia is seeking foreign investment to boost local blueberry industry

In a June 2026 report, ProColombia details how the country seeks to position itself as an attractive destination for foreign investment in the blueberry industry, amid growing global demand and buyer interest in supply diversification.

According to the government agency responsible for promoting foreign tourism, exports, and investment, global blueberry imports reached $7.3 billion in 2024, after registering a compound annual growth rate of nearly 14 percent between 2020 and 2024. The United States accounted for 33 percent of global purchases, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

This presents an attractive opportunity for Colombia, especially as Euromonitor International estimates that global retail sales of fresh blueberries will increase from 1.21 million tons in 2024 to more than 1.8 million tons in 2030, driven primarily by China, the United States, and Europe.

Year-round blueberry supply, a superpower

ProColombia emphasized that the country's main strength is its ability to produce blueberries 365 days a year, thanks to a rich diversity of thermal floors and the absence of marked seasons.

This allows local growers to supply international markets when other origins face seasonal limitations, with the added advantage of leveraging strategic commercial windows.

"We are seeing a significant transformation in the global blueberry industry. International buyers are increasingly looking for new origins of supply that offer quality, continuity, and sustainability," stated ProColombia President Carmen Caballero.

The executive added that “the Country of Beauty” also enjoys a strategic location and preferential access to international markets, which would facilitate its entry into the highly competitive international blueberry market. 

“Our goal is to attract investment to Colombia that contributes to expanding productive capacity and strengthening the country's exportable offering," she added.

Acreage grows while domestic market keeps demand high

Moreover, the Colombian blueberry industry has expanded rapidly. According to figures from the local Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA) and other sector sources, the planted area more than doubled in four years, growing from 986 acres in 2021 to over 2,240 acres in 2025, the report details.

Production increased from about 2,189 metric tons in 2021 to more than 6,000 metric tons in 2025, reflecting nearly a 20 percent year-on-year increase.

In addition to Boyacá and Cundinamarca, new production hubs in Antioquia, Cauca, Nariño, and the Coffee Region are strengthening the national supply.

ProColombia also emphasized that the sector's development has been primarily driven by domestic consumption. Currently, around 95 percent of the national blueberry production is destined for the internal market, favored by a growing preference for healthy foods and functional snacks.

This strong demand has also boosted imports. Between 2020 and 2025, international shipments grew at a compound annual rate of nearly 196 percent, increasing from $53,000 to more than $12 million. Unsurprisingly, close neighbor Peru accounts for over 98 percent of the imported volume.

Export potential and opportunities for new projects

Although the local market absorbs most of the domestic production, Colombia already exports blueberries to more than ten destinations, including the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, Costa Rica, Italy, Curaçao, and Panama.

In 2025, exports reached approximately $3.1 million. The figure sits far behind global blueberry leading producer Peru’s $2,269 billion in 2024, but ProColombia emphasizes this is clear evidence of growth potential.

The International Blueberry Organization (IBO) projects that global blueberry production will exceed 3.18 million metric tons in 2028, driven by growing consumption and the incorporation of new productive areas.

ProColombia noted that investment opportunities include developing new plantations, incorporating advanced genetics, and building packaging and processing infrastructure, collection centers, precision agriculture, and logistical solutions for export.

Colombia enjoys preferential access to more than 1.5 billion consumers thanks to its network of trade agreements, which grant its blueberries zero-tariff entry to markets such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

Logistical advantages include connectivity provided by El Dorado Airport for air shipments, along with the ports of Cartagena and Buenaventura. Future operations at the Puerto de Antioquia further strengthen the sector's export competitiveness. 

*All images are referential via Shutterstock. 

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