The blueberry industry in Peru is moving through a varietal renewal phase driven by producers seeking genetics that meet yield, flexibility, and fruit-quality requirements. Fall Creek, developer of varieties such as Ventura, is promoting new material, including Sekoya Pop, as part of this transition. According to Julio Zavala, general manager of Fall Creek Peru, producers are targeting yields above 20 or 25 tons per hectare. "There are several things they look for, but one of the main things has to do with yields; they should be exceeding 20 or 25 tons per hectare to be able to talk about a base of high-yielding varieties. In our case, with the launch of varieties, we try to ensure that they have a yield above 25 tons per hectare. That is our base, and we are working towards higher yields." He added that farms are looking for varieties that respond to pruning across different periods to shift peak production away from Peru's usual concentration around week 40 or 42. Fruit size above 18 mm, firmness, brix, acidity balance, transport performance, and appearance also remain core requirements.
Zavala noted that early plantings in Peru relied on Biloxi, later followed by Ventura, which increased daily harvest capacity from 25 kilograms per worker to 40 or 50 kilograms. He stated that Sekoya Pop, known commercially as FCM 14052, now leads new plantings and replacement programmes with more than 4000 hectares established. Other options include Sekoya Beauty, as well as FCM 14057, FCM 17132, Azra, and Bianca for the Chinese market. Fall Creek, founded in 1978 in Oregon, operates in Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Peru, and is expanding in Morocco, Egypt, Georgia, Turkey, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and India. In Peru, the company opened its nursery in Quilmaná in 2014 and a 2500 square metre laboratory in Lima in 2021.
Fruit quality continues to influence market performance. Zavala stated, "The experience of eating fruit is incredibly important. It is said that a consumer who has a bad experience with blueberries or any other fruit takes six weeks to buy it again or give it another chance." He referenced varieties such as Sekoya Pop, Sekoya Beauty, and High Chill and Zero Chill selections as meeting these quality expectations. He added that consumption continues to rise in China, Europe, and the United States. Zavala also noted ongoing work by Senasa to secure access to markets such as Japan and potential negotiations for South Korea.
On the impact of varietal change, he said, "Producers are switching from asparagus to blueberries, peppers to blueberries, and even avocados to blueberries. There are several avenues through which blueberries are entering the market. All of this must be integrated. This varietal shift, this introduction of new, premium varieties to the market, these blue oceans, these new consumer experiences, everything must be integrated so that the industry remains profitable for the country and for the producers."
Source: Blueberries Consulting
