Abu Dhabi, the Emirati company’s headquarters, has expanded its export of famous home-grown blueberries to new destinations like Thailand, Japan, India, and Cambodia.
Elite Global Fresh Trading ( EGFT), a subsidiary of its agriculture division Elite Agro Holding (EAG), is a leading trader and producer of sustainably grown, premium quality farm fresh produce.
Exports of the ‘ Elite Berry‘ brand started this month and will continue until the end of May. In 2024, the company plans to extend the export season from January to May and add new export markets, backed by expanding production at EAG’s local farms that influence sustainable farming capabilities.
Dr. Abdulmonem Almarzooqi, Elite Agro Holding CEO and board member, stated, ” We are proud to see the expansion of the international distribution network for our high-quality and popular blueberries. This strategic move supports the food security of the UAE and its vision for economic diversification while placing the country among elite agricultural exporting countries”.
Last year, EGFT debuted locally grown blueberry exports to the international markets of Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Dr. Almarzooqi noted, ” Our export expansion illustrates our commercial strength and robust and sustainable farming capabilities. We are optimistic about future growth in the export of blueberries to these new markets, which we have infiltrated despite significant competition from producers in Spain, Morocco, and Peru”.
He added, ” There is huge demand from the Asia-Pacific region for UAE- produced fresh, high-quality, and tasty blueberries, and EAG is the leading producer of five varieties of the fruit.”
Sustainable Farming
EAG grows five MBO varieties of blueberries at its Al Foah Farm in Al Ain. The company has doubled its blueberry production capacity by adding 14 hectares of greenhouses to grow 72,000 plants for the 2023 harvest. Its output capacity has risen over the last two years, from 205 to 280/tonnes of blueberries in 2022 to almost 400 tonnes in 2023.
EAG has significant expertise in sustainable farming gained from operating more than 30/local and international farms. Also, the company grows and supplies a range of high-quality fruits and vegetables, including varieties of blueberries, raspberries, potatoes, and strawberries, to the local market, among other fresh produce.
