Over the past decade, Ukraine’s blueberry market has evolved from a niche segment into a fully-fledged export-oriented industry. Even amid the full-scale war, producers have not only preserved production but expanded planted areas, invested in technology, and secured their positions in international markets, EastFruit reports.
A key role in this transformation in 2025 has been played by the Ukrainian Blueberry Growers Association, which has become an institutional platform for industry consolidation, quality standardization, and a systematic approach to foreign markets.
The Association was founded on February 14, 2025, by sixteen leading producers who together represented about 20% of national blueberry production – approximately 850 hectares of plantations. Within its first year, the organization expanded significantly: today it brings together 40 full member companies and 4 associate members cultivating around 1,700 hectares of blueberry plantations.
From the outset, the Association was created with a clear mission—to unite producers’ efforts, harmonize quality standards, strengthen export potential, and make Ukrainian blueberries recognizable on the global market. In a relatively short period, it has become an influential industry player both domestically and internationally.
Members of the Association collectively possess more than 10 years of practical experience in blueberry production, sales, marketing, and the sustainable development of the sector.
Ukraine’s blueberry industry developed gradually. More than a decade of growth has enabled producers to accumulate deep practical expertise adapted to the country’s diverse soil and climatic zones. This combination of regional specificity and a systematic approach now constitutes one of the key competitive advantages of Ukrainian products.
The Association unites verified producers and exporters operating under high standards of cultivation and post-harvest handling, who view cooperation not as a formality but as a tool to enhance competitiveness and profitability in both local and international markets.
The composition of the Association accurately reflects the real structure of Ukraine’s blueberry market—from large export-oriented companies to specialized organic and family farms.
This combination of different scales and production models increases the sector’s resilience to market and climate fluctuations.
Governance and Strategic Priorities
The Association is led by President Nataliya Pukshyn, with Yevhen Rykun, founder and director of OrniBerry LCC, serving as Secretary. At the core of the Association’s strategy are technology, quality, and exports—from adapting production to climate change and obtaining international certification to direct engagement with importers. The key principle remains unchanged: recognition of Ukrainian blueberries must be based on volume, quality, and reliability of supply.
Institutional Support and Government Dialogue
An important step in 2025 was the Association’s accession to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This partnership opened access to services critical for the berry business, including export certification, confirmation of product origin, and integration into international business networks.
Special attention should be given to the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. The document предусматривает coordination of initiatives in the berry sector, export promotion, and the industry’s involvement in shaping state agricultural policy. For the blueberry market, this marks a transition from fragmented development to a systematic dialogue with the government.
The Association is actively working to strengthen the international presence of Ukrainian blueberries. In 2025, the Ukrainian Blueberry Producers Association participated in Fruit Logistica 2025 in Berlin, where it presented sustainable cultivation practices, confirmed stable product quality, and held negotiations with potential partners from the EU, the Middle East, and Asia. This year, representatives of the Association will also take part in Fruit Logistica 2026, with a focus on concluding long-term contracts, strengthening the Association’s systematic work, and positioning Ukraine as a reliable supplier of high-quality berries.
Outlook for 2026 in the Global Context
The global blueberry market is experiencing rapid growth. Plantation areas are expanding by at least 10% annually. Against this backdrop, Ukraine has all the prerequisites to secure its position among Europe’s leading blueberry exporters by the end of the decade.
“In 2026, the Ukrainian Blueberry Producers Association will focus on further consolidation of producers, expanding export geography, harmonizing quality standards, and building a long-term positive image of Ukrainian blueberries on global markets.
In an industry where global competition is only intensifying, this very model of development—through unity, standards, and a systematic international presence—will determine the success of Ukrainian blueberries in the coming years,” notes Association President Nataliya Pukshyn.
The Association emphasizes that it is open to new members—both large export-oriented companies and medium-sized and local farms. Up-to-date information on projects, export initiatives, and events is regularly published on the Association’s official website.
Further expansion of membership is viewed as a tool to strengthen the sector’s market position, unify approaches to quality and certification, and move from a fragmented presence in foreign markets to a systematic export model.
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