Peru has become the world’s biggest exporter of blueberries in only ten years. Blueberries are grown on flat, hot coastal farms. Peruvian farmers were not familiar with blueberries until a few years ago when the fruit replaced more traditional crops like grapes, cotton and asparagus. The farmers defied the heat while picking the last of the blueberries with long sleeves, hats, and headscarves. The blueberry boom has made Peru the third-largest producer behind China and the US. The top exporter with more than $1.36bn worth of blueberries sold overseas last year. Blueberry bushes need some cold weather, which is found in the Peruvian Highlands, up in the Andes mountains, but not in the coastal region. However, blueberries have become Camposol’s main product, overtaking former best-selling crops mandarins, grapes, mangos, and avocados.

Original news source: Peru’s ‘fast and furious’ blueberry boom (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Blueberry Brainstorm
Instructions: Have students brainstorm everything they know about blueberries. Write their ideas on the board. Then, read the article together and see how many things they got right.

– Blueberry Map
Instructions: Draw a map of Peru on the board and ask students to label the coastal region and the highlands. Then, fill in the map with notes about where blueberries are grown and why.

– Blueberry Survey
Instructions: Have students fill out a survey about their favorite fruits. Include questions like “Have you ever tried blueberries?”, “Do you like blueberries?”, and “What is your favorite way to eat blueberries?” Create a table on the board to record the results.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What country is the biggest exporter of blueberries in the world?
2. Where are blueberries grown in Peru?
3. What did blueberries replace as traditional crops in Peru?
4. How did the farmers protect themselves from the heat while picking blueberries?
5. What is Peru’s rank among blueberry producers?
6. How much money in blueberries did Peru sell overseas last year?
7. Where in Peru can blueberry bushes grow well?
8. What crop did blueberries overtake as Camposol’s main product?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Peru is now the world’s largest exporter of (1)___________ in just ten years. Blueberries are grown on flat, hot coastal farms. Peruvian farmers were not familiar with blueberries until a few years ago when the fruit replaced more (2)___________ crops like grapes, cotton and asparagus. The farmers defied the heat while picking the last of the blueberries with long sleeves, hats, and (3)___________ . The blueberry boom has made Peru the third-largest producer behind China and the US. The top exporter with more than $1.36bn worth of blueberries sold overseas last year. Blueberry bushes need some cold weather, which is found in the Peruvian Highlands, up in the Andes mountains, but not in the coastal region. However, blueberries have become (4)___________ main product, overtaking former best-selling crops mandarins, grapes, (5)___________, and avocados.
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Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. Have you ever eaten blueberries before?
2. Do you like blueberries?
3. What kind of weather do blueberries need to grow?
4. Do you know where Peru is?
5. What other crops did the Peruvian farmers used to grow before blueberries?
6. How do the farmers protect themselves from the heat while picking blueberries?
7. What is the name of the company that now produces the most blueberries in Peru?
8. Have you ever tried any other fruits or vegetables from Peru?
9. Do you think it’s important for countries to export goods to other countries?
10. What are some other fruits or vegetables you like to eat?
11. Have you ever visited a farm before?
12. What do you think it would be like to work on a farm?
13. Do you like hot weather or cold weather more?
14. How do blueberries taste compared to other fruits?
15. Have you ever tried any blueberry-flavored foods or drinks?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. blueberries
2. coastal
3. farmers
4. boom
5. heat
6. highlands
7. producer
8. overseas

Meanings:
A) People who grow crops and take care of animals
B) In another country
C) A person or company that makes goods to sell
D) A sudden increase in something
E) Near the sea or ocean
F) A type of fruit that is small, round and blue
G) An area of high land, often with mountains
H) A very high temperature
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is Peru now the biggest exporter of?
(a) bananas
(b) oranges
(c) blueberries
(d) apples

2. Where are blueberries grown in Peru?
(a) in the mountains
(b) in the forests
(c) on the coast
(d) in the cities

3. What crops did blueberries replace in Peru?
(a) grapes, cotton and asparagus
(b) tomatoes, corn and potatoes
(c) carrots, broccoli and cauliflower
(d) strawberries, raspberries and blackberries

4. What did the farmers wear to pick blueberries?
(a) shorts and t-shirts
(b) long sleeves, hats, and headscarves
(c) swimsuits and flipflops
(d) jackets and boots

5. What is the name of the company that grows blueberries in the Peruvian Highlands?
(a) Andes Farms
(b) Coastal Crops
(c) Peru Produce
(d) Camposol

6. What is the current ranking of Peru in blueberry production?
(a) first
(b) second
(c) third
(d) fourth

7. What is the name of the country that is the biggest producer of blueberries?
(a) China
(b) Peru
(c) US
(d) Russia

8. What is the value of blueberries sold overseas by Peru last year?
(a) $1.36bn
(b) $2.36bn
(c) $3.36bn
(d) $4.36bn
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True or False Questions:

1. Blueberries are grown on hot coastal farms in Peru.
2. Peruvian farmers were familiar with blueberries before they became a popular crop.
3. Farmers wear long sleeves, hats, and headscarves while picking blueberries.
4. Peru is the world’s second-largest producer of blueberries.
5. Blueberries need hot weather to grow, which is found in the Peruvian Highlands.
6. Blueberries have replaced mandarins, grapes, mangos, and avocados as Camposol’s main product.
7. China is the top exporter of blueberries.
8. Peru made over $2.36bn from exporting blueberries last year.
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Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

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Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What country is the biggest exporter of blueberries?
2. Where do Peruvian farmers grow blueberries?
3. Did Peruvian farmers know about blueberries a long time ago?
4. What did blueberries replace on Peruvian farms?
5. What is the name of the company that grows a lot of blueberries in Peru?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What country is the biggest exporter of blueberries in the world?
Answer: Peru is the biggest exporter of blueberries in the world.

2. Where are blueberries grown in Peru?
Answer: Blueberries are grown on flat, hot coastal farms in Peru.

3. What did blueberries replace as traditional crops in Peru?
Answer: Blueberries replaced traditional crops like grapes, cotton, and asparagus in Peru.

4. How did the farmers protect themselves from the heat while picking blueberries?
Answer: The farmers protected themselves from the heat while picking blueberries by wearing long sleeves, hats, and headscarves.

5. What is Peru’s rank among blueberry producers?
Answer: Peru is the third-largest blueberry producer in the world.

6. How much money in blueberries did Peru sell overseas last year?
Answer: Peru sold over $1.36bn worth of blueberries overseas last year.

7. Where in Peru can blueberry bushes grow well?
Answer: Blueberry bushes can grow well in the Peruvian Highlands, up in the Andes mountains.

8. What crop did blueberries overtake as Camposol’s main product?
Answer: Blueberries overtook mandarins, grapes, mangos, and avocados as Camposol’s main product.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

1. Blueberries
2. Traditional
3. Headscarves
4. Camposol’s
5. Mangos
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. blueberries
Answer: F) A type of fruit that is small, round and blue

2. coastal
Answer: E) Near the sea or ocean

3. farmers
Answer: A) People who grow crops and take care of animals

4. boom
Answer: D) A sudden increase in something

5. heat
Answer: H) A very high temperature

6. highlands
Answer: G) An area of high land, often with mountains

7. producer
Answer: C) A person or company that makes goods to sell

8. overseas
Answer: B) In another country
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is Peru now the biggest exporter of?
Answer: (c) blueberries

2. Where are blueberries grown in Peru?
Answer: (c) on the coast

3. What crops did blueberries replace in Peru?
Answer: (a) grapes, cotton and asparagus

4. What did the farmers wear to pick blueberries?
Answer: (b) long sleeves, hats, and headscarves

5. What is the name of the company that grows blueberries in the Peruvian Highlands?
Answer: (d) Camposol

6. What is the current ranking of Peru in blueberry production?
Answer: (c) third

7. What is the name of the country that is the biggest producer of blueberries?
Answer: (a) China

8. What is the value of blueberries sold overseas by Peru last year?
Answer: (a) $1.36bn
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True or False Answers:

1. Blueberries are grown on hot coastal farms in Peru.
Answer: True
2. Peruvian farmers were familiar with blueberries before they became a popular crop.
Answer: False
3. Farmers wear long sleeves, hats, and headscarves while picking blueberries.
Answer: True
4. Peru is the world’s second-largest producer of blueberries.
Answer: False
5. Blueberries need hot weather to grow, which is found in the Peruvian Highlands.
Answer: False
6. Blueberries have replaced mandarins, grapes, mangos, and avocados as Camposol’s main product.
Answer: True
7. China is the top exporter of blueberries.
Answer: False
8. Peru made over $2.36bn from exporting blueberries last year.
Answer: False
Go back to questions ⇧