Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc., a global blueberry breeding and nursery company, has announced the introduction of five new varieties this month in its new licensing option for commercial growers. In late 2019, the company officially launched The Fall Creek Collection™, its new blueberry genetics and services offering that provides growers with an assured pipeline of blueberry varieties for all chill levels, as well as technology transfer and horticultural support services through the company’s applied research and grower support teams. The new varieties (names pending) include four developed for mid- and high-chill growing regions and one more for low chill climates.
Initial varieties already available in the collection include three for no chill climates—AtlasBlueTM ‘FCM12-045’, BiancaBlueTM ‘FCM12-087’ and JupiterBlueTM ‘FCM12- 131’—which have been trialed in Mexico, Peru, Iberia and Morocco and selected for their superior fruit quality. Initial commercial evaluation of these varieties in low chill regions is showing promise.
“The Fall Creek Collection is the first global genetics and services ecosystem for all chill levels in blueberries,” says Fall Creek Co-CEO Cort Brazelton. “The model is built to optimize flexibility and the independence of professional growers and grower-marketers who want to plan for future business growth with confidence while reducing the risk of adopting new varieties.”
At a time when access to the best blueberry genetics is both increasingly costly and restrictive for fruit producers, the Fall Creek Collection offers simplicity in access together with increased technical engagement and agility for blueberry businesses focused on the future. The fee structure is simple and subscription based.
“We are investing in expanding the team and delivering substantial enhancements in technical information and guidelines on how to optimize these varieties,” says Commercial Director Jason Wolcott. “Wherever you’re growing blueberries, we have new genetics for you to investigate.”
Licensees in the Fall Creek Collection can expect access to current and new varieties as well as a pipeline of future releases from Fall Creek’s high, mid, low and no chill breeding programs.
“As we expand our global applied research initiatives, licensees of The Fall Creek Collection will not only have access to trial sites, but also opportunities to evaluate current releases and advance selections under commercial management systems,” says Director of Product Development Matt Kramer. “The real-world conditions and scale will allow us to identify practices that will bring out the best of each genotype, to optimize yield and post-harvest characteristics while reducing harvest costs.”
Fall Creek will be exhibiting during Fruit Logistica. You can find them in Hall 3.2, booth D-27.
For more information:
Fall Creek - US & Canada
Tel: 1.800.538.3001
Fall Creek Europe - EMEA
Tel: +34 954 49 19 31
Email: europe@fallcreeknursery.com