CHILEAN exports of cultivated blueberries to the international market have increased by an annual average of 35% between 2005 and last year, making the country one of the biggest global suppliers of the fruit.

Over 70 000 tonnes of high-bush blueberries were exported in 2011-12, according to a report by Chile's Oficina de Estadísticas y Políticas Agrarias (Odepa). Chilean fresh blueberry exports for the 2011-12 season have reached USD389 million - almost a 145% increase from the 2008 result of USD160 million.